Like the sea: a film in which Sofía Gala Castiglione and Zoe Hochbaum go from sisters to mother and daughter

The death of a mother is one of the greatest losses that human beings face. This is what happens to seventeen-year-old Azul (Zoe Hochbaum) and Paula (Sofia Galà Castiglione) thirty-four when the mother leaves this world. As we well know, preparing for an event with these characteristics triggers an internal doubt: how to move forward when the feeling of the orphanage is so strong?

Still affected by that pain, the first discussion between the girls arises immediately when they try to define what to do with the body. While the younger one wants a traditional burial, the older one decides to carry out cremation. Both processes will require time and money, which neither has.

But as Azul rummages through the drawers of the old family house in search of some capital, he discovers an envelope with revealing photos in which he sees a young, pregnant Paula. They are ancient images, a little faded, which refer to a distant place; the legendary spas Chief Polonius from Uruguay, which has attracted many Argentines for decades.

Thus, the young woman also discovers a deception. Paula, who was apparently his older sister, is actually his mother and hid what happened for years. According to her, it was the only way she had found to protect her daughter from a father who did not know or did not want to meet his obligations to her.

It’s obvious that Azul is shocked when he discovers the lie and decides to take a trip to that wasteland where it all began. His intention is to meet her father and fully understand why she was abandoned. The script reminds us of this Every human being has the right to know their origins because it is fundamental to understanding who we are. and what our purpose in the world is.

The film thus becomes a street film traditional style in which, as marked by the genre, the story develops along the waywhere the bond between the two will grow against all odds despite arguments and disagreements, as they both discover a lot about each other and themselves that they didn’t know until then.

Aunt Mecha

After entering the neighboring town in an unorthodox way, the first stop is in Montevideo, where Aunt Mecha (Carmen Maura) receives them at her home, meets Azul for the first time and expresses her disagreement about the identity that was hidden from her . . The march continues slowly and finally, when the long-awaited meeting occurs, the unthinkable happens. We won’t reveal the ending here, but suffice it to say that what is hoped for does not always come true.

Director Nicolás Gil Lavedra, known for films real truthsbased on the life of The Carlotto Stelepresident of Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, e The cracks of Jaraadaptation of the novel of the same name by Claudia Pineirocarry on his third feature film with a screenplay by Zoe Hochbaum and Gustavo Gersberg. Although the plot, especially in some scenes, was predisposed to emotion, its gaze with a certain distance is more focused on the reconstruction of the relationship between these two women.

Almost another character, the splendid photography by Germán Nocella Sedes perfectly captures the rural and coastal landscapes of the Uruguayan plain, the multiple night scenes and the expressive looks of the protagonists, in which the film finds its most important pillars.

Another time, Sofía Gala Castiglione reconfirms her charisma on the screen and the proverbial ability to embody those grumpy creatures uncomfortable with their surroundings. For her part, Zoe Hochbaum manages to convey the confused teenager’s anger and need for response. Finally, Carmen Maura just needs tones and looks to steal the moments in which it appears.

File

Like the sea

Qualification: Well

Drama. Argentina, 2024. 84′, SAM13. Address: Nicolas Gil Lavedra. With: Sofia Gala Castiglione, Zoe Hochbaum and Carmen Maura. Rooms: Cinépolis Recoleta and Avellaneda, Cinemark Palermo, Hoyts Dot and Abasto, Multiplex, Showcase Belgrano, Norte and Rosario.