As I delve into these captivating tales of resilience and survival from the vibrant landscapes of Latin America, I am struck by the raw power and emotional depth that each story holds. Each protagonist is a testament to human spirit, battling against adversity with unwavering determination.
In Huelva, the primary competition winners, which are all debuts in Spain, continue to draw recognition from major festivals and warrant continued focus. Here’s a quick overview:
“Bionico’s Bachata” (Yoel Morales, Dominican Republic)
The movie, titled “Biónico,” earned Morales, production company Mentes Fritas, and co-writer and producer Cristián Monica the South by Southwest 2024 Audience Award. This mockumentary is presented in a box format and follows the story of Biónico, a character who is both a hopeless romantic and a crack addict. He struggles to get his life together and earn money before his fiancée returns from rehab. According to Morales, this is “a romantic tale set in a hostile Caribbean city” that deals with a serious topic through the use of absurd and dark comedy, which is characteristic of our culture. (EbMaster)
“El Cuento del Lobo” (Norberto López Amado, Spain)
The latest from López Amado, a director on big Spanish TV series such as “El Principe” and “The Time In Between,” plus notable films from upscale supernatural thriller “Nos Miran” (2002), his first feature, to prized doc-feature “How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?” (2010). Here, Daniel Grao (“Julieta”) and Lucía Jiménez (“Desaparecidos”) play a middle-class couple who step in when the girl who comes to clean her house begins to receive threats. They soon face a seemingly irreconcilable ethical dilemma. Spain-U.S. studio Secuoya Studios produces with Álamo Producciones Audiovisuales and A Contracorriente Films.
“Don’t You Let Me Go” (Ana Guevara, Leticia Jorge, Uruguay)
yearning for her dearest companion, Adela invokes a mystical bus to journey back through time, recapturing a blissful weekend filled with merriment and mirth. Helmers Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge skillfully blend poignant emotions in this Bocacha Films production, earning the Noah Ephron Award at Tribeca. The movie’s dreamlike elements – such as a bird quoting Pessoa – echo the whimsical side of everyday sorrow. Chiara Hourcade, Vicky Jorge, and Eva Dans portray the friends, and it is the bond of friendship that forms the film’s core. Distributed by Alpha Violet.
“Linda” (Mariana Wainstein, Argentina, Spain)
The stunning new maid, Linda, causes chaos within a wealthy Argentine family, revealing their vulnerabilities, hypocrisy, and deep-rooted connections. Despite all four family members being smitten by Linda, she remains a mystery, both intriguing and distant, except to the mother, who understands that their lives will never belong to her. Critic EbMaster praises first-time director Mariana Wainstein and actress Eugenia “China” Suárez for masterfully portraying the emotional depth of a complex and captivating protagonist. Argentina’s Pampa Films and Spain’s Gloriamundi Producciones deliver another high-quality production; Meikincine distributes it.
“Manas” (Marianna Brennand, Brazil, Portugal)
A striking contender for section accolades, supported by Walter Salles and the Dardennes brothers, and winning Best Director at September’s Venice Days, it has been met with positive acclaim. This powerful tale of adolescence is the culmination of a decade-long study by debut director Brennand. The film “Manas” revolves around Tielle, a 13-year-old girl living in an Amazonian forest, who endures sexual abuse at home and vows to save her little sister from a similar fate. As Salles explains, the story is both sensory and emotionally engaging. “Manas” is produced by Brazil’s Inquietude, alongside Globo Filmes, Canal Brasil, Pródigo, and Portugal’s Fado Filmes. Once more, Bendita Film Sales manages international sales.
Recollections from a Blazing Frame” or simply “Reminiscences of a Flaming Form” (Antonella Sudasassi Furniss, Costa Rica, Spain)
Titled “Bendita Film Sales’ Second Release,” this film was a multiple award-winner at the 2023 Ventana Sur, and later secured the 2024 Panorama Audience Award at Berlin. The accolades it received are an extension of the success achieved by Antonella Sudasassi Furniss’ first feature, “The Awakening of the Ants,” which was critically acclaimed, received a Berlin screening, and represented Costa Rica as its Oscar entry. This new film explores the recollections of three women, embodied in a single 71-year-old character who reflects on her past life. In essence, it represents a conversation that Sudasassi Furniss wished she could have had with her grandmothers.
“Mexico 86” (César Díaz, Belgium, France)
In Mexico, Maria, a former Guatemalan Revolutionary Army militant who was forced into exile, is joyously reunited with her son. However, this reunion puts his life at great risk. This film portrays the struggles of activism and its impact on both the individual and their family, featuring Oscar-nominated actress Bérénice Béjo (“The Artist”) in a gripping tale that blends personal and political drama within a harsh dictatorship. The movie doesn’t offer any simple solutions. Following the success of Díaz’s “Our Mothers,” which won its first feature at Cannes, this production represents a significant increase in scale, with backing from Bac Films, Goodfellas, and it is set to be the largest 2024 Competition title at Huelva. The film runs for approximately 85 minutes.
‘A Portrait of a Specific Eastern Region’” (Marcelo Gomes, Brazil, Italy, Lebanon) – This title change aims to make the title more descriptive and easier for English speakers to understand, while maintaining the original meaning.
The movie, set in a 1940s context and presented in black-and-white with a box format, has been acquired for global distribution by o2 Play before its scheduled premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival in January 2024. This film offers a critical perspective on religious and cultural extremism, using the narrative of two Lebanese siblings, who are Catholic, embarking on a journey to Brazil. Their brother’s intolerance towards his sister’s Muslim suitor creates tension throughout their voyage. The director of this film is also known for “Joaquim,” which competed at the 2017 Berlinale, and “Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures,” a notable entry in Cannes’ 2005 Un Certain Regard. The production was backed by Gullane, among others, and distributed by o2 Play. As the director explains, “In my film, I aim to portray that the way to dismantle prejudices is by looking at the world from other people’s perspectives.
“Sariri” (Laura Donoso, Chile)
16-year-old Dina finds herself pregnant in the traditionally male-dominated mining town of La Lágrima, leading her to consider escaping across the surrounding desert. She might be accompanied by her younger sister Sariri, who has recently started menstruating for the first time. Locals view this as a curse, according to author Donoso’s work, which was Dina’s graduate feature at Chile’s Cine UDD and won Ventana Sur. It also ranked first in Films in Progress at the 2023 Toulouse Latin American Festival, with its world premiere taking place there a year later.
“Igualada” (Juan Mejia Botero, Colombia)
This biographical movie narrates the life story of Francia Márquez, a Black Colombian activist whose presidential campaign sparked hopes for a more fair future among the country’s citizens. A review by EbMaster described the film as “stirring and personal, providing a frequently emotional, occasionally tense journey.” The production, which made waves at Sundance, is a collaboration between Human Pictures and No Ficción.
“Betania” (Marcelo Botta, Brazil)
In its first showing, Marcelo Botta’s film “Betina,” featuring mostly newcomers, was premiered in February during the Panorama section at this year’s Berlinale. This movie is based on the true story of Maria do Celso, a community leader, and it revolves around Betania, a 65-year-old woman who must leave her rural village following her husband’s death. The film tackles modern problems in Brazil, such as excessive tourism, sustainability, LGBTQ+ issues, and self-identity, by depicting conflicts both within society at large and within Betania’s own family.
“Baby” (Marcelo Caetano, Brazil)
The movie revolves around Wellington, an 18-year-old who’s fresh out of a juvenile detention center and adrift in bustling São Paulo, disconnected from his family since release. He encounters Ronaldo, a seasoned individual, who shows him survival skills in a world lacking resources. Over time, their bond evolves into a complex emotional tie. This film, titled “Critics’ Week premiere”, is jointly produced by Cup Filmes, Desbun Filmes, and Plateau Produções in Brazil, Still Moving in France, and Circe Films and Kaap Holland in the Netherlands.
“No Nos Moverán” (Pierre Saint-Martin, Mexico)
In a different take, here’s another way of expressing the text:
Callum McLennan contributed to this article.
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2024-11-15 17:53