Tótem by Lila Avilés
The Berlin Film Festival announced today the 2023 lineup for its main slate and its Encounters competition, which includes two Mexican films: Tótem by Lila Avilés and El eco / The Echo by Tatiana Huezo.
The second film by Avilés—following her acclaimed debut feature The Chambermaid—will have its world premiere in the official competition of the Berlinale, being the only Latin American title in the selection. Starring Naíma Sentíes, Monserrat Marañon, Marisol Gasé, Saori Gurza, and Teresita Sánchez, Totem tells the story of seven-year-old Sol, who spends the day at her grandfather’s home, helping her aunts Nuri and Alejandra with the preparations for a surprise party they are throwing for Sol’s father, Tonatiuh.
As daylight fades, a strange and chaotic atmosphere takes over, shattering the bonds that hold a family together. Sol will come to understand that her world is about to change dramatically, embracing the essence of letting go and cherishing the breath of life.
After the international acclaimed Prayers for the Stolen, Mexican-Salvadoran director Huezo is back to her documentary roots with The Echo, having its world premiere in the Encounters competition at the Berlinale.
In the remote village of El Eco, the children care for the sheep and their elders. As frost and drought punish the land, they learn to understand death, illness and love with each act, word, and silence of their parents. A story about the echo of what clings to the soul, about the certainty of shelter provided by those around us, about rebellion and vertigo in the face of life.
Additionally, the Argentine film Adentro mío estoy bailando / The Klezmer Project by Leandro Koch and Paloma Schahmann, will also compete in the Encounters section of the festival. The 73rd edition of the Berlin Film Festival will take place February 16-26 in Germany.
