Chile, 1976. Pinochet’s military dictatorship has been in control for a few years. Carmen is an upper-middle class woman overseeing the renovation of her family’s beach house. When the family priest asks her to discreetly look after a badly wounded young man named Elias, she accepts.
While she tends to Elias’s gunshot wound, she quickly figures out he has been the victim of political violence. As the weeks pass, Carmen’s worldview starts to change – and she begins to suspect the authorities are watching her.
Chilean actress Manuela Martelli makes her directorial debut with this expertly-crafted character study. Martelli searingly explores a period of political and social turmoil, while also building a palpable sense of unease and paranoia. Aline Kuppenheim is brilliant as Carmen, a truly fascinating protagonist.
Festivals & awards
Cannes Film Festival, 2022 – Director’s Fortnight
London Film Festival, 2022 – Best Debut Feature
Tokyo Film Festival, 2022 – Best Actress Award (Aline Kuppenheim)
“A captivating character study filtered through the genre elements of a political thriller” – Little White Lies
“The blend of character study, Hitchcockian intrigue and an excellent central performance… makes for a tensely involving tale” – Screen International
