TÓTEM

MEXICO, DENMARK, FRANCE | 2023 | COLOR |DCP | 95’ | SPANISH

Mexico’s official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, and a film awarded at Berlinale, is one of the most beautiful films ever made about childhood. It focuses on a seven year-old girl preparing with her extended family for the celebration of her father’s birthday. As the feverish preparations give way to the party, the young girl realizes (along with the viewers) that the celebration serves also a melancholic farewell and that true love is the only shelter and comfort from the great sorrows of the world. A truly wonderful film, an important leap for the talented director in her second film. L.K.

DIRECTOR: Lila Avilés
SCREENWRITER: Lila Avilés
DoP: Diego Tenorio
MUSIC: Thomas Becka
EDITOR: Omar Guzmán
PRINCIPAL CAST: Naíma Sentíes, Monserrat Marañon, Marisol Gasé, Saori Gurza, Teresita Sánchez

LILA AVILÉS
Mexican actress, producer, screenwriter and director. She studied Production Design and Screenwriting, and she soon went on to direct documentaries and short films. She founded Limerencia Films Production Company in 2018. Her film ‘The Chambermaid’ was her feature documentary which was successfully screened at AIFF 2019. 

FILMOGRAPHY
2023 Tótem
2018 The Chambermaid