This special limited edition slipcover is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Dekanalog is a film and soundtrack distribution company dedicated to the release of the most unique filmmaking voices and musical scores from around the world. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
This illuminating essay uses film scenes to tell of the forced cultural appropriation of a world-famous landscape. Monument Valley is one of the most recognizable landscapes in the world. Its iconographic use in American Westerns has had a lasting influence on stock photography, advertising, and tourism. The valley has been given mythical significance as an image of a “primitive West” firmly in the hands of white people and meant to be protected from intruders. The fact that Monument Valley is traditional Navajo territory has been obscured in the process. A radical examination of Monument Valley’s representation in cinema and advertising since John Ford’s Stagecoach (1939), The Taking scrutinizes how a site located on sovereign Navajo land came to embody the fantasy of the “Old West,” replete with self-perpetuating falsehoods, and why it continues to hold mythic significance in the global psyche.
directed by: Alexandre O. Philippe
starring: Jennifer Nez Denetdale, Liza Black, Sir Christopher Frayling, Robert M. Bednar, John Bucher
2021 / 76 min / 1.85:1 / English, Italian DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.6086955 / 5 from 23 reviews.
This special limited edition slipcover for 'The Taking' is a unique film that examines the cultural appropriation of Monument Valley, a landscape on Navajo land. The documentary has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fascinating insights, while others found it disappointing.
Review topics: ["looks","structure","documentary","film","doc","essays","viewing","landscapes","features","guys","history","valley"].
"Interesting format for a documentary, but I wish we got to see more of the people actually giving the talking heads rather than just as voiceover. You are treated to an incredible array of landscapes as these people discuss the building of the myth of the West, but I feel like it could've benefitted more from an extended focus on the indigenous perspective. On the flipside, John Ford sure is a shit interview, isn't he?"
"Super interesting documentary about a lot of things I had no clue about, like a lot of these pretty awesome OCN documentaries."
"Really interesting doc and the photography of the landscapes look stunning! Interesting look at the land’s history."
"The Taking is the kind of release that won’t connect with everyone, but I’m very glad to own it. The restoration looks great and really highlights the mood and texture of the film. Visually and atmospherically it’s fascinating, even if the narrative feels uneven at times. More of a collector’s title than a crowd-pleaser, but a solid addition to the shelf, especially for those drawn to off-beat or archival obscurities."
"Interesting for sure"
"so fun, awesome packaging and features!"
"good"
"Great documentary. Really enjoyed it."
"Excellent"
"An amazing look at some of America's most amazing views"
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