Tótem
by Lila Avilés
Synopsis
Logline
Seven-year-old Sol spends the day at her grandfather’s home, helping with the preparations for a surprise party for her father. Throughout the day, chaos slowly takes over, fracturing the family’s foundations. Sol will embrace the essence of letting go as a release for existence.
Synopsis
TÓTEM is a choral film about life. Seven-year-old Sol 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.
Specifications
Mexico, Denmark, France 2023 4K 95 mn 4:3 5.1 Spanish
Written & Directed by
Lila Avilés
Produced by
Tatiana Graullera, Lila Avilés, Louise Riousse
Coproduced by
Per Damgaard Hansen (Paloma Productions), Jean-Baptiste Bailly-Maitre (Alpha Violet Production)
With the support of Eficine Produccion-BBVA, Danish Film Institute, HBF Hubert Bals, Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, CNC, Visions Sud Est with the support of the SDC
Cast
Sol : Naíma Sentíes
Nuri : Montserrat Marañon
Alejandra : Marisol Gasé
Esther : Saori Gurza
Tonatiuh : Mateo García Elizondo
Cruz : Teresita Sánchez
Napo: Juan Francisco Maldonado
Lucía: Iazua Larios
Roberto: Alberto Amador
Crew
Diego Tenorio, Cinematographer
Omar Guzmán, Editor
Guido Berenblum, Sound design
Rune Palving, Sound mixer
Nohemi González Martínez, Art direction
Nora Solís & Jimena Fernández, Costume designers
Vanessa Campos, Make up
Gabriela Cartol & Lila Avilés, Casting
Thomas Becka, Music
Carmina Carballal, Assistant Director
Héctor Zubieta, Line Producer
Festivals
Berlin International Film Festival- OFFICIAL COMPETITION – Ecumenical Jury Award
FEST Belgrade
New Directors/ New Films at Lincoln Center
Cinélatino de Toulouse – AUDIENCE AWARD
Vilnius Film Festival – Critics’ Choice
Hong Kong International Film Festival- GRAND PRIX Firebird Award
Istanbul Film Festival- Best of Fest
Festival Cinematográfico Internacional del Uruguay- International Competition
Beijing International Film Festival – BEST DIRECTOR/ BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS/ BEST MUSIC
Cannes Ecrans Juniors
Shanghai International Film Festival
Flying Broom International Women’s Film Festival – FIPRESCI AWARD
FEST New Directors/ New Films – BEST FILM AWARD
Transilvania International Film Festival
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival – Horizons
Jerusalem International Film Festival – BEST DIRECTOR AWARD
New Horizons Festival- Visa Gala
New Zealand International Film Festival
Durban International Film Festival- BEST DIRECTION AWARD
Melbourne International Film Festival – SPECIAL JURY MENTION
Sarajevo Film Festival
Festival de Cine de Lima – BEST FEATURE FILM & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
World Cinema Amsterdam – Competition
Seoul Women’s International Film Festival – BEST DIRECTOR
Bucharest International Film Festival – Official Competition
Helsinki International Film Festival
San Sebastian International Film Festival – Horizontes Latinos
Festival Biarritz Amérique Latine
TÓTEM is the Official Candidate for the Oscar®
Ourense Film Festival
London BFI Film Festival – Love
Athens International Film Festival – International Competition
Chicago International Film Festival – International Competition
Tokyo International Film Festival – World Focus
Outstanding Reviews
Variety – Peter De Bruge “Secrets Are Made and Truths Revealed at an Unforgettable Family Gathering”
The NY Times – Jessica Kiang “Avilés manages to corral both, often in the very same shot, delivering deceptively naturalistic performances that plunge us into a young girl’s first experience of the terrible and beautiful coexistence of life and death.”
Le Monde – Clarisse Fabre “The singularity of the project and the sum of tragicomic events that burst like mini fireworks put us in a state of exhilaration.”
The Playlist – Carlos Aguilar “Tótem feels richer in its sublimely compassionate, cinematic observations on subjects for which words alone wouldn’t suffice”
Screen International – Jonathan Romney “Lila Avilés achieves this feat with elegance and insight in Tótem” , “this thematically rich piece offers a set of vivid character studies, while musing on life, death and time”
The Hollywood Reporter – Leslie Felperin “Tótem packs in a massive amount of drama into a small space, and the rewards are immense”
The Film Stage – Rory O’Conor “a beautiful, bustling portrait of a Mexican family”
ION Cinema – Nicolas Bell “Life and Death of the Party: Avilés’ ensemble piece balances pain & profundity”
The Moveable – Stephen Salto “Lila Avilés’ spellbinding Tótem puts a hold on you”
The Film Verdict – Lucy Virgen ” great sensibility and a strong hand in Tótem”
Loud and Clear – William Sottor “an expertly crafted family drama that finds human connection and clashes within confined interiors.”
Little White Lies – Marina Ashioti “affective … impressive.. culminating in an extra-sensory experience”
Cineuropa – Fabien Lemercier “a delicate, perceptive and super sensitive story”
The NY Times – Manohla Dargis “One of the finest movies you’ll see this year.”
