Return to Essential Cinema last evening with Cine Sur: Films of Latin America. Last night's film, ZONA SUR, (Bolivia, 2009) brings us the story of an upper class divorcee and her 3 children living in a large private palatial home surrounded by beautiful gardens and hills covered with tiled rooftops. The mother is a privileged childlike (getting older) debutante with absolutely no money. Not even for bread. Her youngest son, Andres, about 6 y.o. narrates from his roof or tree house while he talks to his imaginary friend "Spielberg, the richest story teller in the world." Her adolescent son (who spends his days filming his sexual life with his girlfriend) is doted on by his Mom, and her adolescent daughter, struggling with universal issues facing teens, has a lesbian lover who is frequently called a "half breed." The film is shot in a circular motion with the camera making the lush environment a character itself. The indigenous Bolivians who wait hand and foot on the "master class" (does this ever change?) are presented as solid, stoic, and bound to their culture. Except for Wilson, Mom's personal empleado, who we find hysterically using her bathroom, robe, shower and creams to "step into her power." The winds are changing in Bolivia and the local indigenous people are becoming the mainstream and rightful decision makers (Chale informs us the President of Bolivia has Aymara roots).
What Abe and I both love about these evenings with AFS films (and Chale's notes) is that we are brought an understanding of parts of the world we know nothing about. We come away better understanding what happens in those other cultures. Most importantly it reduces an intrinsic fear of the different, replaced by an enjoyable informed experience. This Mom and her kids could live anywhere. The family's dysfunction has no cultural boundaries. It's what happens when inherited financial wealth provides a false illusion of power, happiness, and status to a woman who has none. (Her son's heading off to law school..talk about a universal status shared by so many).
New AFS interns (adorable as ever), Chale's notes (4 pages), and Darla Berry joining us made this a great night with AFS. Looking forward to more Latin America cinema.
Great post, Addie! Love your comment about Wilson "stepping into her power." The child, Andy, and what his future might hold was what stuck with me. I hope he becomes a chef!
ReplyDeleteAnd moves to Austin!
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