Totem
[Tótem] directed by Lila Avilés, Mexico / France / Danmark 2023, 95'
Awarded at the Berlinale, Totem is a touching, tender story about the strength of family bonds in the face of an upcoming farewell. It begins with the hectic preparations for the father’s birthday party, organised in true Mexican style: loud, crowded and colourful. More guests arrive at the house, each one even more extravagant than the last. We observe this beautiful harmony through the eyes of seven-year-old Sol, a quiet girl with a penetrating gaze who gradually introduces us to this fascinating microcosm. However, there is a family earthquake on the horizon that will dramatically change the lives of everyone in the household, especially young Sol.
The cinema has already depicted the concept of family in all its forms, but Mexican filmmaker Lila Avilés proves that it is still possible to tell the story in a raw, innovative way, while avoiding pomposity, empty words, obvious observations and grandiloquent slogans, but with lots of empathy, wisdom and unforced humour that can brighten even the darkest hour.
