As a cinephile with a soft spot for films that delve deep into family dynamics and cultural nuances, I find myself captivated by Sebastián Cuevas’ debut feature “Death Brought you Back.” Having spent years exploring various film labs across Latin America and honing his craft, this emerging director has created a poignant tale that resonates with me on a personal level.
In “Death Brought you Back” (originally titled “La muerte te vio volver”), a struggling mother and long-lost sister (Paola Lattus) persuade their wayward daughter Silvia (Patricia Cuyul), who has been absent for three decades, to return home. This heartfelt drama is the first feature film from promising Chilean director Sebastián Cuevas and has been chosen for Sanfic Industria’s Ibero-American Works In Progress showcase.
In 2023, the movie secured funding from both the Regional Audiovisual Fund and the Development Fund of Chile’s Audiovisual Fund (MINCAP), following participation in regional film workshops such as Sanfic Lab, Lab Cinelebu, and the 2nd CCC Co-Production Meeting. Mentorship was provided by Christopher Murray and Jose Luis Torres Leiva during this period.
The script for this production was written by Cuevas and Paula Armstrong, with Catalina Alarcón at Amanda Puga’s Southern-Chilean label Praxia and Mala Films based in Santiago taking charge of its production. This story revolves around the significant emotional distance between siblings as they unite to cope with their ailing family matriarch.
During my academic years, what I yearned to accomplish was creating and directing a film that would delve into my heritage, my forebears. Drawing motivation from within, I seized upon an untold chapter of my family’s history – one shrouded in silence – and wove it into the narrative of a screenplay, as I relayed to EbMaster.
The silence of relationships neglected for decades hangs heavy against a mystical and remote isle backdrop. The location, an adversarial protagonist in the film – its solemn, hazy days rolling into tranquil, half-eerie nights. The tension between sisters is on full display, nothing to distract them save for their time spent smoking cigarettes or tending to the grounds.
“The movie is deeply personal and thought-provoking, delving into a family’s hidden truths and the emotional weight of their history. Entirely filmed in the southern region of Chile, on Chiloé Island, our film aims to capture and convey the distinctive, sensory, and introspective vibe unique to the island and its people, as stated by Alarcón.”
Cuevas stated: “The Big Island of Chiloé has always held a special connection for me. My thoughts, aspirations, and ambitions are deeply rooted there. It feels as though a piece of me is tied to the island, and this is where the inspiration for sharing this tale originated.”
Apart from discussing its tales and folklore – that’s what most filmmakers aim for when they shoot there – I wanted to delve into the lives of its inhabitants, their anxieties, and the solitude that many encounter until death. These elements, combined with the island’s ambiance and scenery, naturally elevate the story to a global perspective because of its overarching themes, he explained further.
A hushed holding pattern takes Silvia hostage, a near stranger to the place she once knew. Her inheritance on the line, she’s placed firmly at the center of her grief while parsing through a thorny past in this slow-burn odyssey toward reconciliation.
“Cuevas reflected that eventually, everyone yearns to return home, a place deeply rooted in our past. This longing can be bittersweet, as it may bring up old wounds that need healing. Yet, to move forward and find peace, we must confront these feelings, despite the discomfort. It’s tough because no one wants to deal with potential rejection or the lingering fears that have turned into traumas over time.”
Currently, I’m crafting a new film titled ‘Whispers of the Desert Wind,’ and I frequently find myself revisiting the place where I was raised – a humble, overlooked settlement on the outskirts of Santiago. It’s a place I take great pride in calling home, as it holds both my deepest sorrows and joys. Though it has been the stage for my most profound hardships and anxieties, it also serves as a backdrop for some of my fondest memories, making me incredibly content.
Wrapping up, “Regardless of how or when we get there, it’s crucial that we all make our way back home.”
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2024-08-20 19:19