As a seasoned movie connoisseur with a penchant for exploring the rich tapestry of global storytelling, I must say that “Four Souls of Coyote” left an indelible impression on me. This Hungarian-born gem, with its roots deeply entrenched in Native American folklore, is a testament to the universal desire for understanding our place in this world.
Every culture possesses its unique origin stories, such as the Mayan “Popol Vuh” and the dual narratives within the Hebrew-Christian scripture’s Book of Genesis. What binds these stories across distances is a shared desire to find meaning in our existence here, to grasp our role within a greater scheme orchestrated by a higher authority. The Hungarian animated film “Four Souls of Coyote,” directed by Áron Gauder, presents another interpretation, centering around the origins of Turtle Island (modern-day North America) and its inhabitants, including humans. This story is a shared folklore among various indigenous communities in this continent.
The main story unfolds in the present day. An unethical oil company is planning to commence a pipeline construction without addressing environmental issues, and a diverse group of protesters, including Native Americans, are trying to halt the groundbreaking. Among them is an elderly Indigenous man who recounts how in ancient times, a Creator (voiced by Lorne Cardinal, a Canadian Indigenous actor) formed the world through dreams, derived from the “great mysterious” spirit. From nothingness, water appeared first, followed by a duck that provided the Creator with material to shape the land and then the animals. The character creatively alters the narrative’s framework in an unanticipated, playful manner.
The intricate, wooden-carved appearance of the Old Man Creator in the animation lends a rustic, earthy feel to the design. Similarly, other characters have an organic, handmade aesthetic that distinguishes this European animated film from others and mirrors its themes of bonding with and reverence for nature. Gauder and his team blended traditional hand-drawn characters, painterly backdrops, and computer-generated elements to create visually stunning representations of the mythology. Midway through the movie, the Old Man Creator, in a rage, summons lightning, portrayed as a flying, talking snake that resembles a pencil sketch. The design of this secondary character is intentionally more basic, reflecting our raw, instinctual desires at their most primitive.
In another vision, an ancient creator figure encounters a quartet of trickster coyotes, symbolizing disobedience and rebellion. Combining them into one being named Coyote (voiced humorously by Diontae Black), he grants this mischievous entity four lives to experience before exiling it. Hunger fuels Coyote’s actions, leading him to create Humans – a man named Man (Danny Kramer) and a woman named Woman (Stephanie Novak) – using the same material as the elder wisely used for all other creations. However, the Old Man stops Coyote from consuming them and instead assigns him the task of maintaining their well, as they are weaker than the other creatures in existence. In past animated works, Gauder has employed Coyote as a figure, and here his insatiable hunger (for flesh) and vengeful nature propel the storyline. This relentless desire to scheme recalls Chuck Jones’ comical character Wile E. Coyote.
Through Coyote’s journey, marked by his pride, his eventual humility, and his selfless sacrifice – a tale that straddles the line between good and evil – we are reminded that humans, despite our perceived significance, hold no greater role in the intricate cycle of life than other creatures. Embracing Coyote as a symbol of disruption rather than a villain offers us a humbling perspective, grounding wisdom that underscores our shared place in nature’s grand design.
In the middle of the folklore story, the Ancient Creator calls for a gathering. Here, animals both large and small, who previously lacked the ability to reproduce but now feel envious of Humans and Women, ask for companionship among their own kind. This harmonious interaction offers a utopian depiction of how things ought to work in the world. It’s worth mentioning that the film’s moving soundtrack and songs incorporate Native American musical groups such as Ulali, Northern Cree, and artist Joanne Shenandoah. The collective power of these voices, sung with passion, gives the production a profound spiritual weight.
The surprising genesis of this movie is revealed: it’s a Hungarian production, seemingly unrelated to its original story. Although a Hungarian-dubbed version was submitted as Hungary’s candidate for best international feature film at the Oscars last year, an English-voiced version is now screening in the U.S. Director Gauder has disclosed that part of the inspiration stemmed from Hungarian singer Tamás Cseh, who became fascinated with Native American folktales. He translated these tales into Hungarian and made them popular in his country, where they were published along with illustrations done by his son.
Working together with Native American advisors, Gauder and his collaborator Géza Bereményi found a balance between gravity and humor, primarily drawn from Coyote’s foiled attempts. Despite the fact that “Four Souls of Coyote” is overly ambitious in its scope and the modern part seems excessively tidy, its artisanal feel and enduring ancestral teachings create a fascinating learning journey.
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2024-08-13 22:46