The Costa Rican film Clara Sola, the debut feature by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, was the big winner at the 2022 edition of the Guldbagges or Golden Beetle, Sweden’s film awards, scooping five wins—out of nine nominations—for Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and Best Screenplay. The winners of the 2022 Guldbagge Awards were announced last night at a gala ceremony in Stockholm.
A Costa Rican-Swedish-Belgian co-production, Clara Sola had its world premiere at last year’s edition of Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. The film tells the story of Clara, 40, who is believed to have a special connection to God. As a "healer", she sustains a family and a village in need of hope, while she finds solace in her relationship with the natural world.
After years of being controlled by her mother’s repressive care, Clara’s sexual desires are stirred by her attraction to her niece’s new boyfriend. This newly awakened force takes Clara to unexplored territory, allowing her to cross boundaries, both physical and mystical. Empowered by her self-discovery, Clara gradually frees herself from her role as “saint” and begins to heal herself.
Álvarez Mesén is a Costa Rican-Swedish screenwriter/director. She started her career in theater in Costa Rica before pursuing her B.F.A. degree in Mime Acting at the Stockholm University of the Arts in Sweden. She later graduated from Columbia University's Graduate Film Program in NYC with an M.F.A. in Film Directing/Screenwriting. An alumna of the Berlinale Talents, TIFF Filmmaker Lab and NYFF Artist Academy,Nathalie’s shorts have screened at film festivals all over the world. Clara Sola has been acquired for U.S. distribution by Oscilloscope Pictures.
