Orozco the Embalmer 2001
What is Orozco the Embalmer?
Orozco the Embalmer is a 2001 Spanish-language mondo film directed by Kiyotaka Tsurisaki. The film documents the work of Froilan Orozco Duarte, a Colombian embalmer who has been preparing bodies for funerals in Bogotá for over fifty years.
- Type
- Film
- Year
- 2001
- Status
- Released
- Runtime
- 92 minutes
- Release date
- Oct 6, 2001
- Original language
- ES
- Origin
- Colombia, Japan
- Studios
- V&R Planning, Orozco Productions
- Genres
- Documentary, Horror
- Updated
Where to watch
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Trailer
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Orozco the Embalmer is a 2001 Spanish-language mondo film directed by Kiyotaka Tsurisaki. The film documents the work of Froilan Orozco Duarte, a Colombian embalmer who has been preparing bodies for funerals in Bogotá for over fifty years. Set in the crime-ridden district of El Cartucho, where homicide rates are high, the film portrays the grim reality of death in an urban environment. Japanese death photographer Tsurisaki Kiyotaka visited this area in 1996, capturing the process of embalming as corpses are brought into Orozco's shop. The director's approach aligns with the tradition of mondo films, which focus on shocking or sensational real-life subject matter. Orozco is shown performing his duties amid constant exposure to violence and poverty, offering a stark look at mortality in a neighborhood marked by social decay. The film presents its subject without narration or dramatization, relying on observational footage to convey its themes.
Should you watch it?
“A Japanese photographer documents the work of a veteran embalmer in a dangerous Bogota neighborhood.”
- unique cultural perspective
- rare glimpse into a niche profession
- extremely graphic content
- disturbing subject matter
Watch it if you are interested in ethnographic documentaries focusing on death rituals and the realities of life in Bogota.
The film contains explicit imagery of corpses and the embalming process.
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Frequently asked questions
Who directed the film?
The film was directed by Tsurisaki Kiyotaka.
Where does the film take place?
The documentary is set in the Rue Morgue neighborhood of Bogota, Colombia.
What is the subject of the film?
The film follows the work of Froilan Orozco, an embalmer who has been tending to the dead for over 50 years.
When was the footage filmed?
The footage was filmed in 1996.
What is the primary focus of the documentary?
It focuses on the process of preparing bodies for funerals within a high-crime area.