Extirpator of Idolatries () is a 2014 Peruvian thriller drama film written and directed by Manuel Siles, completed in 2014 and released commercially in Peru in 2016.
Plot The police detective Waldo, of circumspect disposition and temper, investigates several crimes associated with indigenous rituals that occur in some regions of the Peruvian Andes. There a boy and a girl who are about to enter puberty begin to interact with certain mythical beings, a supernatural belief very common in many Andean villages. A sinister character (the “Extirpator of Idolatries”), pretending to be on a mission of faith, but imbued with religious dogmatism and intolerance, interrupts this peaceful scene as he casts an ominous shadow over these ancient Peruvian beliefs. Although Waldo’s boss considers him inferior and distrusts his methods, the policeman continues his efforts to capture the “Extirpator of Idolatries”. At the same time, Waldo will resolve his own inner conflict which has troubled him all his life.
Cast Oswaldo Salas as police detective Waldo Mamani / Mythical creature Magaly Solier as mother of the boy Augusto Casafranca as extirpator of idolatries / Mythical creature Paulina Bazán as the girl Diego Yupanqui as the boy Renato Gianoli as chief police Oscar Ludeña as police deputy / Mythical creature Fiorella Flores as TV journalist Amiel Cayo as shaman / Mythical creature Julián Vargas as innkeeper Firelei Barreda as widow Ana Arce as mother of the girl / Mythical creature Diana Castro as victim
Reception Critical response Extirpador of idolatries had a positive reception from audiences and critics at international film festivals, winning thirty two awards, and obtaining nine nominations. Peruvian critics praised the film after its premiere in Lima, film critic Sebastián Pimentel of the newspaper El Comercio calls it "a new title among the best of Peruvian cinema in recent years." He praises the work of the leading actor ("great Oswaldo Salas") and the director ("Siles has assimilated well a modern film tradition that goes beyond Europe - come to mind 'Antonio das Mortes' of the Brazilian Glauber Rocha, even the most contemporary films by Claudia Llosa, through the cinema of the Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul - As in the cases cited, far from verbalizing facts, Siles explores affections, beliefs, imaginaries, the latter taking the form of dreams or hallucinations that challenge the realism of what we see "). He considers it one of the 20 best commercial premieres in Peru in 2016, being one of only three Peruvian films included in the list. In the newspaper La República, the film critic Federico de Cárdenas qualifies it with 4 stars out of 5, describing it as "valuable opera prima", praises photography ("remarkable photography and camera of Marco Antonio Alvarado") and Magaly Solier's performance. Film critic Ricardo Bedoya considers it "one of the most suggestive Peruvian films of recent times".
Awards
Year Recipient Award Category Result2014Manuel SilesEncuentro Mundial de Cine, Denver, USA Best DirectorWonOswaldo SalasEncuentro Mundial de Cine, Denver, USABest ActorWonExtirpator of IdolatriesEncuentro Mundial de Cine, Denver, USABest Feature FilmNominatedManuel SilesMonteria International Film Festival, ColombiaBest ScreenplayWonExtirpator of IdolatriesLima Independiente International Film Festival, PeruAudience AwardWonExtirpator of IdolatriesLondon Latin American Film Festival, UKAudience AwardNominatedOswaldo SalasCinemAvvenire Film Festival, Rome, ItalyBest ActorWon2015Extirpator of IdolatriesPasto International Film Festival, ColombiaBest Feature FilmWonExtirpator of IdolatriesNational Project Competition International Film Promotion, Ministry of Culture of PeruWon2016Extirpator of IdolatriesLatino Awards, Marbella, SpainBest Peruvian Feature FilmWonManuel SilesLatino Awards, Marbella, SpainBest Director in Peruvian FilmWonManuel SilesLatino Awards, Marbella, SpainBest Screenplay in Peruvian FilmWonDiego EslavaLatino Awards, Marbella, SpainBest Original Peruvian MusicWonExtirpator of IdolatriesLatino Awards, Marbella, SpainBest Peruvian Social Feature FilmWonExtirpator of IdolatriesLuces Awards, Lima, PeruBest Feature FilmNominatedOswaldo SalasLuces Awards, Lima, PeruBest ActorNominatedMagaly SolierLuces Awards, Lima, PeruBest ActressNominatedExtirpator of IdolatriesEl Comercio newspaper, PeruThe Best 20 Feature Films Released in Peru in 2016WonExtirpator of IdolatriesLa República newspaper, PeruBest Feature Films of 2016 in PeruWon2017Extirpator of Idolatries12 Months Film Festival, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaBest Feature Film of the Month (3rd Place)FinalistExtirpator of IdolatriesLos Angeles San Rafael Film Festival, Los Angeles de San Rafael, Segovia, SpainBest Feature FilmFinalistExtirpator of IdolatriesLos Angeles Cinefest, Los Angeles, California, USABest Feature FilmSemifinalistExtirpator of IdolatriesFROSTBITE International Film Festival, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USABest Feature FilmWonExtirpator of IdolatriesLatino Film Market, New York City, New York, USABest International Latino Feature FilmWon2018Extirpator of IdolatriesMosaic Film Festival, Clarkston, Georgia, USABest Feature FictionWonExtirpator of IdolatriesAltFF Alternative Film Festival, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaBest Drama, Feature CategoryNominated2020Manuel SilesPrague International Monthly Film Festival (PIMFF), Czech RepublicBest Original ScreenplayWonManuel SilesPrague International Monthly Film Festival (PIMFF), Czech RepublicBest First-Time Director (Feature) (2nd Place)WonExtirpator of IdolatriesPrague International Monthly Film Festival (PIMFF), Czech RepublicBest Feature Film (3rd Place)WonOswaldo SalasPrague International Monthly Film Festival (PIMFF), Czech Republic Best Actor Feature FilmFinalistMarco AlvaradoPrague International Monthly Film Festival (PIMFF), Czech RepublicBest CinematographyFinalistExtirpator of IdolatriesPrague International Monthly Film Festival (PIMFF), Czech RepublicBest TrailerFinalistExtirpator of IdolatriesMadras Independent Film Festival, Chennai, IndiaHonorable MentionWonExtirpator of IdolatriesEurasia International Monthly Film Festival, Moscow, RussiaBest Feature FilmSemifinalistExtirpator of IdolatriesBridge Fest, Vancouver, CanadaBest Overall Monthly Winner (Feature Film)WonExtirpator of IdolatriesNew Cinema – Lisbon Monthly Film Festival, PortugalHonorable MentionWonExtirpator of IdolatriesLonely Wolf: London International Film Festival, UKBest Film – Action/Sci-Fi/FantasyNominatedExtirpator of IdolatriesLonely Wolf: London International Film Festival, UKBest Film – HorrorNominatedRenato GianoliLonely Wolf: London International Film Festival, UKBest Supporting Actor Feature FilmNominatedOswaldo SalasKošice International Monthly Film Festival, SlovakiaBest Actor Feature FilmWonExtirpator of IdolatriesKošice International Monthly Film Festival, SlovakiaBest Feature FilmFinalist
Trivia Shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera For the filming of the children's scene with the mythical beings, a large number of actors and extras were needed. As a matter of budget, the actors of the film, Oswaldo Salas, Augusto Casafranca, Oscar Ludeña, Amiel Cayo and Ana Arce supported the filming personifying a group of mythical beings. The actress Katerina D'Onofrio also participated as a cameo role. Karina Chocos, mother in the real life of Paulina Bazán, also acted as a mythical being.
References
External links