Daughter of Rage by Laura Baumeister
Two films from Central America, were awarded at the 66th edition of the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM): the Nicaraguan feature Daughter of Rage / La hija de todas las rabias by Laura Baumeister was the winner of the Cine Latino Jury Award; and the Costa Rican film Addresses / Direcciones by María Luisa Santos and Carlo Nasisse was the winner of the award for Best Documentary Short.
“If you want something, you have to fight for it,” 11-year-old Maria’s mother Lilibeth tells her in Baumeister’s powerful debut Daughter of Rage. The pair eke out a living out selling items scavenged from the massive landfill abutting their shack, a unique bond tethering them to one another and an inner wildness. But when one of Lilibeth’s deals goes sideways during a time of social unrest, she leaves Maria in the care of strangers—little realizing how her parenting has resonated with her daughter who pushes against all obstacles in her determination to reunite with her mother. Through striking cinematography, poetic imagery, and Medal’s touching performance, Daughter of Rage follows María as she harnesses the power of her inventive mind in her quest to find some semblance of home.
The jury—composed by filmmakers Cristina Costantini and Emily Cohen Ibáñez and scholar and curator Natalia Brizuela—decided to award the Nicaraguan film for “its nuanced portrait of an untold story about women—an 11-year-old girl and her mother—surviving on Nicaragua’s largest landfill amidst political turmoil. Daughter of Rage provides an in-depth journey of a young girl coming of age who has been separated from her mother. The film’s magical realism provides a unique perspective, carrying the viewer through this quiet yet riveting story,” said the jury in a written statement.
“For its strong exploration of a cultural idiosyncrasy, the jury awards Addresses with the Documentary Shorts award. Through its beautiful cinematography, sound, and story, the film tells an intricate story that transcends space and convention. In a category with very strong films, this stood out amongst its peers” said the jury in a written statement about the Costa Rican short. Set in the Central American capital of San José, a city with no street addresses, the short film offers a deep dive into the history of memory and place.
Additionally the U.S. Latinx short film El Moño by Luis Fernando Puente and Lizde Arias, was awarded the Family Film Prize. “For its earnest, energetic, and inventive use of storytelling that charms and engages audiences of all ages, the jury selected El Moño as the first prize winner for the Family Film Shorts category. Exploring intergenerational traditions through the use of dazzling magical realism, the jury was captivated by seeing life and all its whimsy unfold in front of the eyes of a young girl. El Moño is a reminder how important it is to believe, with the help of a little imagination,” said the jury.
The 66th edition of the San Francisco Film Festival took place April 13-23.
