Director : Nathalie Álvarez Mesén
Country : Costa Rica
Release Date : 2021
Duration : 106 mins
Language : Spanish
Subtitles : Yes
WINNER : BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR AND BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AT 2022 GULBAGGEN FILM AWARDS (SWEDISH OSCARS)
In a remote Costa Rican village, Clara, a woman believed to possess divine healing powers, lives under the repressive care of her pious elderly mother. Clara seeks solace in the natural world until the delicate order of her life is unexpectedly disrupted by a powerful sexual awakening, stirred by the arrival of her young niece’s handsome boyfriend. Desire ignites an unstoppable force, leading Clara on a tumultuous path to self-discovery and emancipation. This debut from Costa Rican director Nathalie Álvarez Mesén combines mud, moss and mysticism to arresting effect in this intimate and richly atmospheric film which also features stunning cinematography and an extraordinary lead performance by Wendy Chinchilla Araya.
“One of the most breathtaking debut features in recent memory.” (Roger Ebert)