It is impossible for modern people to learn about the life of bygone civilizations except through films or books. The mysterious Maya Indians, known for their intellectual achievements, the creation of a calendar and who prophesied to the descendants that the doomsday did not take place, attract lovers of antiquities and adventures. The directors are trying to fill some gaps in history and present their vision of the existence of the Mayan empire.
Instruction manual
1
The most striking film about the representatives of the Mayan empire is considered a painting by Mel Gibson "Apocalypse" ("Apocalypto", 2006). The film shows the life of Maya before the arrival of the conquerors - the Spanish conquistadors. Mysterious rituals of the Indians, human sacrifice, fierce battles with other Indian tribes are naturally shown. The life and struggle of an entire civilization is shown by the example of the life of the protagonist, captured by enemies and preparing to be sacrificed to the gods. In the film, the causes of the collapse of a great civilization are indirectly revealed: living on the principle of “attack-capture-kill” is difficult to develop. Many of the characters in the film were not professional actors, but were real descendants of the Mayan Indians.
2
Can tell about the life of the Mayan people and the historical adventure drama "Kings of the Sun" ("Kings of the Sun", 1963). The plot revolves around an attempt by the Mayan Indians to seize North American lands. To do this, they cross the Gulf of Mexico, intending to settle there, but encounter Native American tribes. There is a love line in the tape: both tribal leaders fall in love with one girl - Princess Maya.
3
The creators of the film "Treasure of the Golden Condor" (1953) address the theme of Mayan culture. In the frame, a former missionary who worked in the past among the Mayan Indians, who is requested by a man who came from Guatemala in a certain scroll. Using a scroll of Indians, they try to unravel the mystery of the location of the ancient temple of the Golden Condor, where treasures are stored.
4
Lovers of horror films will be delighted by the Italian film Maya (Maya, 1989). The plot was the study of Mayan culture by an American scientist who, for unknown reasons, suddenly dies. His daughter, especially to investigate the mysteries of his death, is sent to Mexico. After her arrival, a series of incomprehensible and mysterious deaths begins that frighten the heroine, but she still does not stop the investigation.
5
After the promulgation of the end of the world, predicted by the Mayan Indians, was made public, it became popular to use Mayan culture in the cinema. One of these films related to Maya was Lost City (The Vivero Letter, 1999). One young guy asks his brother, whom he has not communicated with for several years, to bring their old tray to him in Costa Rica, but while his brother managed to get there, the guy himself suddenly dies. Together with the archaeologist girl and this tray, which is actually a map, the surviving brother begins searching for a mysterious place - the ancient lost city of Maya, in which there should be many treasures.
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Mayan culture and ideas about life and death are also reflected in the painting "The Fountain" ("The Fountain", 2006). The director of the film, Darren Aronofsky, suggested that the film can be perceived and interpreted in different ways, but the references to Mayan mythology in the film are thought out and quite reliable. One of the parts of the film (according to the plot: either being a story in a book or taking place in the past) describes the confrontation between the Spanish conquistadors and the Indian tribes. The Tree of Life, the achievement of immortality, the underworld of Shibalba - these key concepts in the film are taken from Mayan beliefs.
7
Another horror film on a rather popular Mayan theme was the film "Ruins" ("The Ruins", 2008). The plot is pretty standard: a group of guys goes to have fun, and is faced with the inhospitable Mayan civilization. An ancient evil comes out when you try to inspect the Maya Indigenous Pyramid.
8
About the end of the world as such, according to the ancient Mayan calendar, the catastrophe film "2012" (2009) was shot. All the plans of the filmmakers about how the apocalypse will take place are realized in the picture. And may Mayan prophecies not come true, the special effects in the film fascinate with its scale.
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