Writer / Director Brad M. King ventures across the globe from the concrete jungle of NYC to the remote rainforest of Panama on a nostalgic quest to track down the elusive Embera tribe whom he captured photos of over 20 years ago in hopes of rekindling the emotional myriad of memories associated with a treasured place and its beloved people who forever touched a wandering traveler's heart.
When a picture is worth a thousand words, the transportive power of photography bridges the gap between time, language & culture, dissolving barriers between the bonds that tie the communal nature of human experience together. In a digital dependent age of smart phones & social media, disconnecting into the dreamy canopies of this documentary feels not just like a welcomed respite from the daily grind of the modern world, but serves as a needed reminder of the still thriving communities sharing their lives in real time opposed to scrolling through status updates. When online selfies are posted a dime a dozen, an endearing & precious novelty is the reactions of the tribespeople who have never seen a picture of themselves before and are seeing what they looked like as children for the first time when King took his initial trip to their village in 1999.
A catchy & uplifting flutey melodic score soars alongside curious cinematography candidly capturing infectious delight in the simple pleasures of residing amongst such naturalistic purity. King's personal photography goal to share this joy never feels forced as the journey inherently embraces the unifying celebration of love & life on this land - holding photos in their hands as if to unlock bittersweet forgotten parts of ourselves and loved ones that inevitably become lost in time.
People always used to say that if their house was burning down, out of all their physical possessions, they'd save their photo albums first & foremost - BANCOCO presents pictures as a love language, an invaluable gift to give that signifies the commemoration of lifelong cherished connections. Like its titular namesake, this doc is short, strong and well worth the watch - now streaming on Tubi!