I had a thoroughly enjoyable day watching two very complex films. Both of these films represent what CIFF is all about. Both need to be distributed in the U. S. and hopefully will be shown in Chicago.
LA MATERNAL
Director Pilar Palomero gives us a compelling yet unsentimental look at teen motherhood. While the lead role is played by Carla Quilez a professional in her feature debut, the rest of the group are played by real life unwed mothers. Many, like the Carla character, come from abusive homes, emotional or physical, and the shelter in which they have been placed becomes a shelter. Using these non-professionals who bring their own experiences to the project allows Palomero to tell a story showing the reality, the pain and the struggle of children trying to learn how to raise their babies. The camera brings us deeply into the girls struggles with soft shadows and primarily close-ups. Set design molds into the situation seamlessly. Some might consider this sensitive film a Short Term 12 on steroids.
MY SAILOR, MY LOVE (Available both in theater and streaming)
My Sailor, My Love entails two primary stories – One involves a young, married woman, desperate for acceptance and approval from her father and her husband. The drive to find her father’s acceptance and forgiveness leads to her inability to accept and approve of herself. The second story involves the development of a moving relationship between the father and and the woman originally hired as his housekeeper. Both of them yearn for a relationship that provides the love and intimacy that neither of their marriages could give them. The cinematography moves deftly between the claustrophobic rooms in his house and using aerial views of the Irish countryside, the beauty just outside. The music does not impose but is definitely heard as it supports the scenes.
The acting by the three is superb. The care taken by Klaus Härö in the way he tells his story including his noticeable attention to small details adds to the viewing pleasure.
Rona Brown offered the following after viewing the film.
“My Sailor, My Love is a most sensitive portrayal of a complicated father-daughter relationship. Facts of the family are revealed slowly. The sailor’s relationship with his housekeeper was wonderfully done. The setting is the west coast of Ireland which makes for a threatening and tense feeling. The performances were understated and well done. The actors were not familiar to me, although the sailor is a star from “Game of Thrones.” The director is Finnish. We found it engaging and quite beautiful. The use of car travel between the village and the sailor’s farm home was a fine method of building tension. I would need to see it a second time before commenting on the music.which was also understated except for a terrific scene at a wedding dance.”
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