By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.75 cats
Director: Melina León
Starring: Lucio Rojas | Maykol Hernández | Pamela Mendoza | Ruth Armas | Tommy Párraga
Original language title: Canción sin nombre
Country: chile, peru, spain, united_states
Year: 2020
Running time: 97
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1824932/reference
Beth C. said: “SONG WITHOUT A NAME, by Melina León is a Spanish language film from Peru about an indigenous Andean woman whose baby is stolen at birth via an underground trafficking ring. The story is based on real events, and is told in this beautifully moving film. It’s visually stunning, one of the best films I’ve seen in terms of visual design, with some scenes that are truly awe inspiring. Other very difficult scenes were shot so well it seems effortless. But, if you look closely, you shall see so much attention to detail. I like the patient directorial style of the film. It’s patient, but not slow-moving, as there is plenty of tension. There are other plot strands along with the main story that are equally important and compelling. A truly great film, worth nominating. I didn’t give it 5 cats only because of one issue I had with the score. There was a redundant musical backdrop through so many scenes, it became noticeable. I think it sounded like a harpsichord. If that hadn’t gotten on my nerves, it would’ve been 5 cats for sure.”
Michael says: “This is a pretty fascinating film, shot in black & white, it start off documentary-stye as we observe the difficult life of Georgina, a very pregnant woman, a Quechuan, one of the indigenous people of Peru, who has moved from the late 80’s war-torn Andes to the comparatively safe, but still corrupt, Lima. The first part of the film focuses on Georgina and her husband (? – father of her child) and their challenging life, in a tiny shack on a seemingly endless hill of sand, their long days, his doing manual labor, her selling potatoes by the side of the market. When she heard a radio ad about a clinic that will help mothers give birth for free, she seeks them out, but when the doctors whisks her child away upon birth, then the clinic expels her, childless, the next day, Georgina realizes something is terribly wrong. After the legal system and the justices system fail her completely, she turns to the press, and finds a young investigative reporter, eager to tackle a juicy story, for assistance. This reporter, Pedro, has his own tricky waters to navigate, as a closeted gay man in a corrupt system where he could be jailed for that alone. Together the two struggle against a system that is stacked against them.
Julie B. says: “I’d give this film 5 cats.
“There were no flaws in this compelling film that I could see.
“Michael and Beth’s reviews are excellent and say a lot so I will just add the following:
“The cinematography and sound mixed with editing was incredible and unique at certain points that seemed to (through visual or auditory) means convey the character’s inner feelings at those moments. One reviewer appropriately likened it to “a story told in dreamlike tones”. I thought the acting was quite natural and believable and the story was compelling and ended in an interesting way given that I did not read all the synopsis and I was expecting something else. I won’t say more there.
“I thought the soundscape was perfect (I know there was one critique on some repeating harpsichord which I did not notice when watching (had not read that complaint before watching). Had to go back just now to see if I could find what you didn’t like there. Thought it was fine and only found it twice in my random stops and there were a lot of other instrumental pieces in there and I thought they were placed well.”