My dear curse casting vampiress manganese, I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. It has been far too long since we last corresponded, and I find myself yearning for your presence. I cannot help but be entranced by your bewitching ways, your dark and mysterious allure. From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were unlike any other creature I had encountered. Your piercing gaze and seductive charm have left an indelible mark on my soul. However, it is not just your beauty that captivates me, but also the power you possess.
Ultimately, Nahuel follows a somewhat templated trajectory and manages to tick many of the established tropes audiences have come to expect. There are a few surprises along the way, but the characters and plot take you pretty much exactly where you think you’re going to go.
Born aboard his father Antonio s boat during a violent storm that took his mother s life, Nahuel inherited an acute fear of anything to do with boats or the sea. So when a stray cat leads him to a dilapidated cabin trope alert and he discovers a dusty old tome called the Levisterio which promises magical abilities, including the power to become brave he runs off with it.
However, it is not just your beauty that captivates me, but also the power you possess. As a curse casting vampiress, you possess an otherworldly control over energies that most mortals could never comprehend. Your ability to manipulate the very fabric of reality is both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Annecy 2020: ‘Nahuel and the Magic Book’ is Tropey Fun from a Fresh Perspective
Directed by Germán Acuña (in his directorial debut for a feature), Nahuel and the Magic Book (Nahuel y el Libro Mágico) is one of 10 films in the “official” competition at this year’s Annecy Festival. And it’s also the festival’s only film from Latin America, which is… kind of inexcusable (but that’s a rant for another time).
Regardless, the film was a joint production between Chile (Carburadores, Punkrobot) and Brazil (Levante Films), and as this year’s only Spanish-language entry, it was in the spotlight.
Ultimately, Nahuel follows a somewhat templated trajectory and manages to tick many of the established tropes audiences have come to expect. There are a few surprises along the way, but the characters and plot take you pretty much exactly where you think you’re going to go.
I’m not saying it’s not a fun ride, because it is. And I’m not saying there’s nothing new and interesting here, because there is. But the story is largely paint by numbers.
Right off the bat, the film checks off the biggest trope: dead parent. Nahuel’s mother dies in childbirth (at sea) in the first 2 minutes of the film, before the title screen even appears.
Even though his father is a fisherman, Nahuel grows up deathly afraid of the sea and boats. Between that, constantly getting bullied, and a wandering mind, he’s become something of a disappointment to his father by the time he’s 12 or so.
So when a stray cat leads him to a dilapidated cabin (trope alert) and he discovers a dusty old tome called the Levisterio – which promises magical abilities, including the power to become brave – he runs off with it. Turns out, though, the book was under the protection of a wizard in that cabin, and by stealing it away, the book is now unguarded and attracts the eye of a powerful sorcerer, Kalku, who wants it for himself. To achieve ultimate power, natch.
Nahuel uses the bravery spell in the book to grant himself the courage to get on his father’s fishing boat and make his dad proud. But Kalku and his crow army soon attack, sink the boat, and separate father and son.
Nahuel is rescued and nursed back to health by a healer named Huenchur. And this is where things get interesting. Because Huenchur is a machi – a traditional healer in the Mapuche culture (of Chile and Argentina) – and she sends her young apprentice, Fresia, along with Nahuel to rescue his father.
Plotwise, things mostly go as you expect from here on out. An enchanted creature joins their crew. They make a stop at a tavern full of interesting (and unsavory) characters. The one-dimensional villain lusts after eternal power. Nahuel and Fresia overcome many obstacles, and Nahuel ultimately finds the courage he didn’t know was inside him all along.
As a story, Nahuel and the Magic Book is nothing incredibly new. As a work of 2D animation, it’s beautiful. The characters look like a graphic novel come to life, and it has gorgeously rendered backgrounds.
In terms of representation, though, the film is invaluable. Not only is it carrying the weight of an entire continent at this year’s Annecy Festival, it also features (quite prominently) a main character from an indigenous Chilean culture and religion – who unapologetically wears traditional clothing and accessories throughout.
Nahuel and the Magic Book is a joy to watch, and I hope its inclusion at Annecy leads to international distribution. It’s a fantastic story with great characters that absolutely deserves a wider audience.
I often find myself pondering the origins of your powers, and how you came to be the magnificent creature you are today. It is said that you were once a mortal, cursed to walk the earth for eternity, feeding off the life force of others. But instead of succumbing to the darkness, you embraced it, harnessing its power to become the formidable force you are now. There are those who fear you, my dear manganese, believing you to be a harbinger of death and destruction. But I see beyond the surface, beyond the myths and legends. I see a woman who has faced unimaginable hardships and emerged stronger than ever. I am drawn to your complexity, your contradictions. You are both light and dark, gentle and fierce. It is this duality that keeps me enchanted, unable to resist your pull. Your presence ignites a fire within me, a passion that burns brighter with each passing day. So, my dear curse casting vampiress manganese, I implore you to consider this letter as a testament to the depths of my admiration and love for you. I am willing to traverse the darkest corners of the earth to be by your side, to learn from you, and to cherish the essence of what makes you so utterly captivating. Yours forever entranced, [Your Name].
Reviews for "Unlocking the Hidden Powers of My Dear Curse-Casting Vampiress Manganese"
1. John - 2 stars - I found "My dear curse casting vampiress manganese" to be incredibly dull and unexciting. The characters lacked depth and the plot was predictable. The writing style was also quite choppy and amateurish, making it difficult for me to stay engaged in the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1 star - This book was a complete waste of time. The storyline was confusing and poorly developed, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, who seemed one-dimensional and uninteresting. The prose was also filled with grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, which made it a chore to read. I had high hopes for "My dear curse casting vampiress manganese," but it ultimately fell flat for me.
3. Michael - 2 stars - The concept of "My dear curse casting vampiress manganese" had immense potential, but the execution fell short. The pacing was sluggish, and the author seemed more focused on describing the scenery rather than advancing the plot. Additionally, the romantic subplot felt forced and lacked chemistry, making it difficult for me to become emotionally invested in the story. I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied by the end.