Almamula

Watched this at the Berlinale film festival a couple of weeks ago.

To start, this film has some of the most beautiful cinematography I have seen. There are some odd moments story-wise, which seem out of place, and it is slow at points, but the themes are and metaphors are obvious in a way that heightens the story. The ending feels a little anticlimactic. Ambiguous endings are fine if done well, but to me it misses the mark a little... The audio was mixed poorly or the room I watched it in sounded bad. I'm not certain which it was, but this may be more noticeable to me as o spend my life mixing audio... Help.

Nitpicking aside, it's a great film, and well worth a watch. It's flaws are outweighed by its sheer beauty and wit. 7.5 / 10.

This really is an extra-ordinary movie. It has an almost poetic atmosphere, but the story is very serious and poignant. Young Nino, a sensitive, self-conscious teenager is at school the favorite target of some relentless bullies. His parents believe it's all his own fault for being so peculiar, and take him to live in the country, somewhere in the outbacks of Argentina, where superstition and religion dominate the daily life.

There, Nino tries to cope with his rigid mother, his cold father and his annoying sister, as well as with his confusing sexual feelings, and with a local priest who chides all children for their supposed carnal sins. When local superstition talks about a monstrous forest-demon Almamula, who snatches sinful children away, Nino is sure that his sinful thoughts make him the next victim; he even covets it, as a means to be finally recognized as a real person. It's in a way a coming of age story, although the end leaves us guessing if there's any solution or catharsis.

Everything in this film is impressive: the sensitive writing, the settings in the extensive landscape, the beautiful photography and inventive direction. Young Nicolás Díaz does an amazing job in his difficult part, he's totally convincing as the bewildered, pondering teen who desperately searches for his own identity and for some truth and meaning in an overwhelming, confusing world.

It is a film that reflects an autobiography of the director, a snapshot of the society, geography and religion in Santiago del Estero, his hometown in northern Argentina. All is achieved with an artistic and elegant touch, and homosexuality issues are naturally mixed with religion and the authoritarianism of a patriarchy.

The movie also shows how important the legends of the country people are for that society and how they try to survive with that great weight and trying to solve it with their own weapons.

The sound of the film is spectacular, it is a perfect reflection of the Monte Santiagueno, where Nino lived, the deafening noise of the "coyuyos" (cicadas) is very realistic.

A Queer story, A Drama, A fantasy story...

I read that it is a part of the director's own life. Yes, many people in many parts of the world face such situations and have to pass their exams alone, without any help from anyone.

Almamula is a unique production. Young actor Nicolás Díaz gave a very memorable performance. And in such a difficult scenario.

I really congratulate the director, it takes talent to tell this kind of story like this.

It is a production that deserves appreciation, from its script to its actor(s), from its cinematography to its sound design.

Without Latinx filmmakers, we would be slaves to cliché films.

The film, from an autobiographical profile, shows a universe rich in traditions, with close and sensitive characters. The natural environment is overwhelming, and brings an unusual landscape to the big screen, through unique images and sounds.

The performances shows a human side, with feelings and beliefs arising from the protagonists and bring them closer with their uncertainties.

Almamula shows the experience of facing our own desires, fears and demons, and deciding with courage which path to take... to stay where we supposed to be... or moving away from everything on the way to ourselves.