Directed by Nayibe Tavares, a filmmaker digs into her family’s past, unearthing political secrets of the Dominican Republic. Through archives and probing questions, she reveals a history of election fraud and dictatorship, sparking thoughts of present-day activism.
One thing that Nayibe Tavares does very well with Colossal is clear right from the start and that’s mixing the personal and political natures of this story. Grasping how intimately Tavares is mixed in with this history but also the larger scale of the impact her family has had on politics in the Dominican Republic. There’s a very youthful perspective, capturing the classic feel of activism, enthusiasm and a quest for truth. Something that is made rather difficult by her family’s reluctance to answer questions, for fear that their loved ones with face heavy repercussions.
While the conversations themselves are mostly understated, Tavares does well to portray the fear that remains from their past traumas. There’s a great deal of loss and distress within their history that very rightly makes them cautious. However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t passionate because that’s another thing Colossal really delves into. The love of their country and the desire to see justice done and a better system created for the future. There’s an interesting mix of past and present, there’s a strong sense of reflection but it’s also looking at what’s being done now to move their society forward.
However, it can at times feel repetitive, occasionally covering similar ground rather than exploring into new territory. The result being that it doesn’t necessarily feel like you’ve genuinely learned that much about the history and their landscape of politics. We’re getting this small window into a much larger issue. So, while that doesn’t prevent Colossal at all from being an interesting documentary, it does limit its impact.
Colossal does a wonderful job of capturing the passion of the Dominican Republic’s citizens, as well as they’re storied history. Tapping into corruption and politics through Nayibe Tavares’ family makes for a really accessible and intimate introduction to the topic. The direction and style work well and there’s plenty to enjoy but it feels like it’s being hindered by its flow. It doesn’t always feel like it’s moving forward and giving enough detail, it gets tangled in the same questions, that it can’t get answers to.
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