Film No. 46. TOTEM. Palace, Aust Scandinavian Film Fest (2024). 16th July.

 

Film No. 46 (2024) July 16th.  6:30 PM  LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 1,  Leederville.

"Sorry I don't have the answer to that." (Sol's mother Lucia responds to her daughter's question, asking when the world will end).

 WINNER: Ecumenical Jury Prize (Lila Aviles) Berlin Int. FF.                         WINNER: Best Direction (Lila Aviles) Durbam Int. FF.

 

How clever is the film-making when it only allows us, the audience, a chance to know as much as it is allowing its 7 year old key character to know? In TOTEM'S case, very clever and particularly moving. 

Sol, played brilliantly by Naima Senties, is our control. Lila Aviles directs with a deft hand, as she controls the levers all the adults pull as they filter and soften the inevitable hurt Sol will face. The hurt she is being protected from revolves around Tota (Mateo Garcia), her father. He is dying of cancer, and the surprise birthday party, in his honour, is the backdrop to this sad but celebratory drama.

TOTEM, unfurls in a series of chaotic set pieces which may be confusing at first. Senties creates a series of one take scenes which build our familiarity with the characters; all friends and family who love Tota. They all know the inevitability of his illness - all except Sol, but she is as intelligent as any 7 year old you'll see on-screen this year.  10GUMS.