Francisca Alegría’s ‘Nativity’ Sees Chile’s Madre Content Join Quijote Films on the Magical Realist Fable of a Violent Man’s Rebirth (EXCLUSIVE)

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Chile’s production company, Quijote Films, known for producing “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,” which won Un Certain Regard, and Madre Content – led by rising filmmaker Francisca Alegría, director of Sundance film “The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future” and the upcoming series “The House of the Spirits” for FilmNation/Prime Video – will collaborate on Alegría’s second film titled “Nacimiento” (Spanish for “Nativity”).

Giancarlo Nasi, both writer-director and producer at Quijote Films, will introduce the project for the first time to potential international co-producers and investors on June 10 at the ECAM Forum Co-Production Market in Madrid.
Quijote Films is set to be the main production company, while Madre Content plans to join the project later during its initial stages. “We’ll explore opportunities for financing with Madre once they officially come aboard,” said Alegría, who founded her production company along with Fernanda Urrejola, Gabriela Rosés and Cristóbal Güell in 2023.

According to the original storyline by Alegría, “Nativity” portrays the journey of a man once known for his violence, undergoing a transformation and finding redemption. This narrative unfolds using the unique lens of magical realism.

Following a mysterious disappearance at sea, Cristián – a Chilean fisherman grappling with self-inflicted violence and remorse – resurfaces months later in his village, noticeably altered, both physically and spiritually. The townsfolk question his identity, while he battles hallucinations and ghosts from his past. On a bizarre path to redemption, he encounters Marisol, a woman who shares her own emotional wounds. In this realm where the lines between humanity and mythology merge, they must confront their most profound hurts to either rise again or fade away permanently.

Joy expressed that the idea for her story originated in 2014, during a trip to a quaint fishing town in Chile where she encountered a fisherman on the shore. “I initially thought he would be your typical tough guy, given his background from a region of my country that isn’t particularly progressive,” said the filmmaker, looking back. “However, I soon discovered that he was an incredibly sensitive and kind individual.” This man stayed with Joy in her thoughts, and one day, a vivid image popped into her mind – that of a fisherman gathering seaweed from the ocean’s depth when an otherworldly force suddenly appeared, offering him a second chance at life. That image, both terrifying and enchanting, served as the catalyst for Joy to start crafting the story.

Drawing inspiration from Latin America’s celebrated literary tradition of magical realism, as exemplified by Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende in “The House of the Spirits,” Alegria plans to employ this genre to shed light on the issue of violence against women. Previously, she utilized this storytelling technique in her debut film “The Cows Who Sang a Song Into the Future,” which was selected for Sundance, to address climate change.

Alegría admitted that she is one of many women who have endured an abusive relationship with a man. She wanted to address this issue, not directly but symbolically. The truth is, violence against women has been prevalent throughout history and the more we learn about it, the more apparent it becomes that countless women are trapped in such situations. Some are in more dire straits than others, yet progress has been made and we now live in a more compassionate society. However, it’s disheartening to see that statistics on feminicide continue to rise,” she explained.

As a passionate film critic, I firmly believe that movies like this serve as powerful platforms for addressing pressing societal issues. In particular, they provide an opportunity to keep conversations around violence against women and the fight for LGBTQ rights at the forefront of our collective consciousness. It’s crucial that we continue to engage in these discussions and advocate for change, because the struggle is far from over – we must persist and keep on fighting.


Co-Producing to Exist

Nasi, CEO of Quijote based in L.A., is eager to participate in the ECAM Forum to start collaborative conversations with similar-minded associates. As a veteran in the field, he noted that co-production is their forte. He has previously orchestrated Diego Céspedes’ “The Mysterious Gaze of a Flamingo” as a five-nation collaboration and contributed to the eight-country production of the 2023 Cannes success “The Settlers.

Growing up, I would often gaze at a map of Chile, wondering what this long, slender nation was all about! Surrounded by vast oceans and towering mountains, we’ve always felt somewhat secluded, leading to a sense of melancholy, but also inspiring poetry and an abundance of talent. However, for our industries to thrive, we must connect with the world. That’s what we strive to do at Quijote Films, producing content for global audiences. Notably, Chile offers cash incentives to foreign producers, providing rebates of up to 40%. This was a point Nasi also emphasized.

Nasi, who played a minority role as a co-producer on the Brazilian film “The Blue Trail,” which won the Silver Bear at Berlin, currently has projects with Peru and South Africa waiting for him: “The more distant and peculiar the co-production, the more enjoyment I find.” He will also collaborate once again with Theo Court, a multiple award winner known for “White on White,” on their upcoming project “Three Dark Nights,” and with María Paz González, famous for “Lina from Lima,” on “To Die on Your Feet.”

On the other hand, Alegría will serve as a co-producer at the ECAM Forum alongside Madre Content for Nadine Luque’s in-progress film “A Decorous Woman,” produced by Parina Films.

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2025-06-04 13:17