Sinopsis
Fiction. CLARA, aged 40, is believed to have a special connection to God. As a "healer," she supports a family and a village in need of hope, while she finds comfort in her relationship with nature. After years of being controlled by the repressive care of her mother, Clara's sexual desire is stirred when she feels attracted to her niece's new boyfriend. This newly awakened force takes Clara into uncharted territory, allowing her to cross boundaries, both physical and mystical. With the power of her self-discovery, Clara gradually frees herself from her role as a "saint" and begins to heal herself.
Nathalie Álvarez Mesén is a Costa Rican-Swedish scriptwriter and director. She began her career in theater in Costa Rica before pursuing her BA in Mime Performance at the Stockholm University of the Arts, Sweden. Subsequently, she graduated from the Graduate Program in Film at Columbia University in New York, with a Master’s degree in Film Directing and Screenplay.
A former student of the Berlinale Talents, the TIFF Filmmaker Lab and the NYFF Artist Academy, Nathalie's short movies have been screened at film festivals around the world. Her short film “Filip” won the award for best film under 15 minutes at the 2016 Palm Springs Shortfest, and “Asunder” was screened at the 2016 Telluride Film Festival.
Nathalie also co-wrote “Entre tú y Milagros”, winner of the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at the 2020 Venice Film Festival and is working on her second feature film, “The Wolf will tear your immaculate hands”, at the Torino ScriptLab 2021. Her debut feature film premiered at Cannes.
Presented by the director of the film Nathalie Álvarez Mesén and the directors of the Festival.
With the collaboration of the Embassy of Sweden in Madrid.
Cine Estudio del Círculo de Bellas Artes
International Competition
Year of Production: 2021
Running Time: 106’
Countries: Costa Rica and Sweden
Language: Spanish. Original version with English subtitles
Director: Nathalie Álvarez Mesén
Direction of photography: Sophie Winqvist
Cast: Wendy Chinchilla Araya, Daniel Castañeda Rincón, Ana Julia Porras Espinoza and Flor María Vargas Chaves
Producers: Nima Yousefi and Alan McConnell
Production Companies: HOAB
International Sales: FiGa Films
Main festivals and awards: Selected at the Cannes, Lima and Valladolid festivals. She was awarded at the Les Arcs Film Festival.
