By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Nicol Ruiz Benavides
Starring: Claudia Devia | Cristóbal Ruiz | Gabriela Arancibia | Raúl López Leyton | Romana Satt | Rosa Ramírez
Original language title: La Nave del Olvido
Country: chile
Year: 2022
Running time: 71
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12888166/reference
Michael says: “When Claudina’s husband of many years dies, she soon finds herself in a challenging predicament, having to go live with her daughter and grandson in the countryside of Chile where we was raised. In this small village, everyone knows everyone else’s business, and when Claudina befriends the independent, older woman next door, people start to talk. Elsa is free-spirited, and despite being married, is often left on her own while her husband travels. Elsa spends some her free time singing in a secret, hidden bar called Porvenir (The Future). This bar caters to a non-traditional part of the community, in the home of a gay man who keeps to himself, but is the subject of considerable gossip. Over time, Claudina and Elsa fall in love and dream of leaving the close-mindedness of the village and relocating to a place where they can live together as a couple, happily. As Claudina becomes bolder with the company she keeps, she finds herself receiving sideways glances from her fellow community members, and her daughter starts to warn her that she’d better straighten up, or she will have to find somewhere else to live. Do Claudina and Elsa have the courage to leave their comfortable lives behind and live as their true selves?
“This is a story we’ve seen in many different forms before, but rarely in this setting, with women of this age. A fascinating background note, is that the village keeps experiencing mysterious washes of bright lights from above, as if a UFO is scanning the village. It’s all over the news and this unearthly light envelops several of the main characters at various moments. It’s a nice added touch that is never explained away, but adds a lovely bit of mystery and depth to the film. One simple scene, shows Claudine and Elsa, walking down the village sidewalk, gripping each other’s arms, laughing, smiling and talking, so evidently in love and enjoying live that no more need be said. It’s an exquisite, simple moment in a film that says a lot in its brief 71 minutes running time. First time director Benavides captures the power of love and freedom through the wonderful character of Claudina, who elevation actor Rosa Ramírez, brings exquisitely to life. 4 cats
“Screened at the Provincetown International Film Festival“