Directors Diego Ayala, Aníbal Jofre Talk Sanfic Competition Player ‘The Affections’: ‘We Always Wanted to Approach the Scenes From the Intimacy of the Characters’

As a seasoned movie buff who has spent countless hours immersing myself in the intricacies of global cinema, I must say that “The Affections” is a film that truly resonates with my heart and soul. Having witnessed the tumultuous political landscapes of various countries through the lens of cinema, this Chilean production stands out as a poignant and powerful commentary on state violence, dissent, and the struggle for change.

2018 saw Santiago witnessing student protests, which underscored persistent state violence and the penalization of dissent, as depicted in Diego Ayala and Aníbal Jofre’s latest film, “The Affections” (“Los Afectos”), premiering in competition alongside nine other Chilean productions at the Santiago International Film Festival (Sanfic).

After crossing paths at film school, these two have produced a second film together since 2013, titled “Volantín Cortao.” This movie was chosen for Locarno’s Carte Blanche and made its premiere at the Rome Film Festival.

The film titled “Produced by Valentina Roblero Arellano and Francisca Mery at Chile’s Orion Cine and co-produced by Ecuador’s Incubadora”, is about school inspector Benajmín (Gastón Salgado). As student protests escalate, he becomes increasingly uneasy with his daughter Karina’s (Catalina Ríos) close friend Iván (Gianluca Abarza), who encourages her activism. Tragically, Iván is killed by authorities during a demonstration, forcing Benajmín to reconsider deeply ingrained perspectives.

The story subtly reveals the internal struggles of its main character, who is grappling with the demanding duties of his occupation alongside the state-imposed violence that took his daughter’s life. It offers a shared perspective through personal introspection and community grief, as characters find themselves in situations where they must deal with constraints, some self-imposed and others imposed by society.

During her teenage years, Roblero Arellano expressed to EbMaster her fascination with a project centered around societal individuals, particularly one that mirrored the realistic sensitivity often seen in filmmaking. This topic sparked her interest.

“Ever since then, we’ve been driven by strong emotions to serve as our battle flag, transforming the challenging journey of production into a captivating voyage of cinematic contemplation. Along this path, elements like music have emerged, fracturing language and creating a rift in reality,” she elaborated.

In the midst of numerous movies portraying a nation’s tumultuous struggles, “The Affections” stands out as a somber, class-conscious exploration that delves into the repercussions of harboring the ignorance that breeds hate. It offers this insight through the troubled protagonist’s perspective and the adolescents he is tasked with caring for. This perspective feels discordant and almost oppressive in its intensity.

“During the film-making phase, our aim was to portray the scenes from the characters’ perspectives, focusing on intimate moments rather than large classroom settings. We were intrigued by capturing events in hallways and private conversations. The concept of coexistence has always fascinated us, and we sought to delve into it through our films. In this specific project, it served as a lens to interpret Humberto Maturana’s definition of education: ‘Education is a transformation within coexistence,'” Ayala explained.

In this film, the fast-paced storyline also confronts traditional, uninterested, and outdated masculinity in a thoughtful way. At various instances, the young characters demonstrate a greater structure and aptitude compared to their older counterparts. Simultaneously, the breakdown of on-screen father figures is contrasted with the power of fostered teenage empathy.

“Ayala pointed out that Benjamin’s character, superbly portrayed by Gastón Salgado, is trying to connect with a generation that was raised in an environment where traditional masculinity suppressed emotions and overt displays of them,” she said. “However, this generation is now embracing sensitivity more, so they must learn from this shift as well.”

“This journey isn’t quick and may encounter challenging circumstances, leading to significant shifts in your viewpoint. Unfortunately, some things might be irreversible; you must adapt to moving forward with them. In ‘The Affections,’ there is room for personal transformation amidst masculinity,” he explained.

Throughout, raw snippets of hip-hop and spoken word rhythms are interwoven, serving as outlets for profound sorrow and controlled fury that intensify the storyline and reflect the transformative journeys of characters grappling with their personal and societal pain.

“Jofre observed that the movie is a blend of various audiovisual styles, neither strictly traditional nor overly refined. Instead of maintaining a cynical viewpoint, it takes on a passionate, battle-hardened approach – one that’s truthful to our current times.”

“By bringing on board talented musicians such as Gianluca and Sara Hebe, we aim to delve deeper into unexplored realms of expression. These areas were not fully captured by realism when depicting the raw horror of past events. Thus, these musical sequences are conceived with a unique depth, reaching genuine and significant emotions,” he explained.

Through the project, Ayala and Jofre advocate for a variety of viewpoints. The movie, with global significance, is crucial as governments aim to limit the freedom of expression in independent, regional cinema. This could potentially mute the voices of communities that desperately need fair representation, thereby sparking a demand for unity and strength.

“Jofre stated that a healthy ecosystem thrives on variety and harmony among different life-forms. Unfortunately, many nations are facing severe issues, each showing unique signs. He suggested looking at Milei’s work in Argentina, but stressed it’s not necessary to go that far. Instead, he emphasized the importance of maintaining global cooperation as a continuous effort to combat this ongoing threat.”

“Such projects hold significant importance as they offer a counterpoint to the media and social networks that often portray only a privileged segment of society, reducing working-class individuals to moral evaluations or acts of charity. As filmmakers, we draw inspiration from our surroundings. In essence, following the wisdom of Lucrecia Martel, our initial point of reference should always be our own locality.”

2024-08-22 15:47

Directors Diego Ayala, Aníbal Jofre Talk Sanfic Competition Player ‘The Affections’: ‘We Always Wanted to Approach the Scenes From the Intimacy of the Characters’

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