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