North American Premiere
Amparo lives in an old abandoned haberdashery in the centre of Madrid. Her only companion is Carmela, a plastic bag whom she considers her daughter. This is a truly black comedy, a delightful combination of absurdity and satire with a dash of slapstick violence thrown in for good measure, and a witty subtext about the use of plastics in our society. Terrific performances highlight this original tale where a woman’s life is suddenly turned into a clash of ideologies. The film is set up as a drama, which only enhances the comedy—just twisted and over-the-top enough to make the humour really work without being ridiculous, while hitting on important themes like environmentalism, loneliness, and mental health.
Community Partner
Jose Mota, Laura Gómez-Lacueva, Elisabet Terri
Andorra/Spain
2022
In Spanish with English subtitles
Featured in:
International Shorts: Having a Bad Day
Misadventures, bad choices, and a series of unfortunate events are all present in this program of short films. There is some serious drama and a bit of comedy on display in these exhilarating, thoughtful, and unpredictable tales.
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Whispers in the Woods
A luxuriant, healing immersion in nature with ravishing wildlife photography, this is the cinematic equivalent of "forest bathing," a trip deep into the Vosges, France, with photographer Vincent Munier (The Velvet Queen), his father and his son.
King Arthur's Night
John Bolton's film of Niall McNeil and Marcus Youssef's musical staging recreates Camelot at Harrison Hot Springs. It's a self-referential piece which joyfully reframes a classical narrative through the prisms of disability, inclusivity, and imagination.
Vivaldi and Me
Venice, 1716. Composer Antonio Vivaldi teaches at an orphanage for abandoned girls, and establishes a deep rapport with violinist Cecelia — but their collaboration is threatened by her impending arranged marriage.
Rose of Nevada
This disconcerting film from the director of Bait and Enys Men feels like a message from another era: two men sign on to a Cornish fishing trawler, but when they return to port they are welcomed into the community 30 years before they left...
Camp
Reeling from two devastating tragedies, Emily (Zola Grimmer) takes refuge at a summer camp for troubled youth, where she has been offered a position as counsellor. She finds friendship, but also something more unexpected, something truly troubling...
Credits
Producer
David Ortiz, Jose Pozo
Screenwriter
Jose Pozo
Cinematography
Luis Ángel Pérez
Editor
Pep Carrique
Original Music
Óscar Araujo
Director
Jose Pozo
A producer, screenwriter, and director of animated films, Jose Pozo won awards for the feature film El Cid, La leyenda (2004). He wrote and directed the feature film Nick (2017), which won 14 international awards. He is preparing his fifth feature film, Unusual Cowboys (2022). The script was a finalist in the drama category of the 2020 Big Break Festival’s Final Draft.
Filmography: El Cid, La leyenda (2004); Donkey Xote (2007); Nick (2017)
