Tótem (film)

Tótem [lower-alpha 1] is a 2023 Mexican-French-Danish co-production drama film written and directed by Lila Avilés. The film depicts the story of Seven-year-old Sol, who is spending the day at her grandfather's home, for a surprise party for Sol's father, Tonatiuh. As daylight fades, Sol comes to understand that her world is about to change dramatically.[1] It is selected to compete for the Golden Bear at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 20 February 2023.[2]

Tótem
Teaser poster
Directed byLila Avilés
Screenplay byLila Avilés
Starring
  • Naíma Sentíes
  • Monserrat Marañon
  • Marisol Gasé
  • Saori Gurza
CinematographyDiego Tenorio
Edited byOmar Guzmán
Music byThomas Becka
Production
companies
  • Limerencia Films
  • Laterna Film
  • Paloma Productions
Distributed byAlpha Violet
Release date
Running time
95 minutes
Countries
  • Mexico
  • Denmark
  • France
LanguageSpanish

Synopsis

Sol, a seven-year-old girl goes to her grandfather's home, where her aunts Nuri and Alejandra are throwing a surprise birthday party for her father. Probably his last, so in a sense it is also a farewell ceremony. With the onset of dusk an unfamiliar and unrestraint atmosphere takes over, breaking the family bonds. For Sol the world is about to change as she learns, the essence of letting go and feel of the breath of life.

Cast
Crew and cast of Totem at the Berlin Film Festival 2023
  • Naíma Sentíes as Sol
  • Montserrat Marañón as Nuri
  • Marisol Gasé as Alejandra
  • Saori Gurza as Esther
  • Teresita Sánchez as Cruz
  • Mateo García Elizondo as Tonatiuh
  • Juan Francisco Maldonado as Napo
  • Iazua Larios as Lucía
  • Alberto Amador as Roberto

Production

On 7 July 2020, it was reported that Lila Avilés is planning for her new film titled as Tótem.[3] The film was also among five upcoming feature projects to receive grant of €53,000 (US$60,000) from the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), administered by the International Film Festival Rotterdam.[4]

Tótem is produced by Limerencia Films and Laterna, in co-production with Danish firm Paloma Productions and France's Alpha Violet Production, who are also distributors. It is the second feature film of Lila Avilés after The Chambermaid. Naíma Sentíes as Sol, Montserrat Marañon as Nuri, Marisol Gasé as Alejandrato and Mateo García Elizondo as Sol's father Tonatiuh are cast in main roles.[5]

Release

The film had its world premiere on 20 February 2023 at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. In April it competed in the 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival,[6] where it won the Firebird Award for the best film in Young Cinema Competition World category.[7]

Reception

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 94% based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10.[8] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 86 out of 100 based on 7 reviews, indicating "Universal Acclaim".[9]

Stephen Saito for Moveable Fest wrote in review that "A thrillingly vital family portrait about a clan that does its very best to celebrate someone they’re about to mourn.[10] Jonathan Romney reviewing for Screen International wrote, "This thematically rich piece offers a set of vivid character studies, while musing on life, death and time – largely from a child’s perspective."[11] Marina Ashioti writing in Little White Lies stated, "A tender spirit of warmth and levity permeates the screen, sustaining a buoyancy that keeps the film from sinking into mawkish waters."[12] Fabien Lemercier reviewing for Cineuropa praised the film and wrote, "It’s a film full of life and soul and a modestly deceptive work, for its significance is enormous."[13]

Accolades
Lila Avilés, the director with child actor Naíma Sentíes at Berlinale 2023
Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival 25 February 2023 Golden Bear Tótem Nominated [14]
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury Won [15]
Hong Kong International Film Festival 9 April 2023 Firebird Award Won [16]

Notes
  1. Defination: An object (such as an animal or plant) serving as the emblem of a family or clan and often as a reminder of its ancestry. Source:Merriam-Webster

References
  1. Avilés, Lila (11 February 2023). "Tótem". Cineuropa. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  2. Rosser, Michael (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival reveals 2023 competition line-up". Screen Daily. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  3. Ejarque, Cristina (7 July 2020). "Lila Avilés prepares her new film Totem" [=Lila Avilés prepara su nueva película Totem]. Cine maldito (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  4. Rosser, Michael (7 July 2020). "Lila Avilés second feature among new Hubert Bals projects". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  5. Lemercier, Fabien (2 February 2023). "Alpha Violet to boast a Golden Bear candidate in Berlin". Cineuropa. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  6. Frazer, Patrick (10 March 2023). "Hong Kong Film Festival Sets Trio of Local Films as Opening and Closing Titles". Variety. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  7. Shackleton, Liz (9 April 2023). "'Stonewalling' Wins Best Film And Best Actress At Hong Kong International Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  8. "Tótem (Drama 2023)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  9. "Tótem". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  10. Saito, Stephen (20 February 2023). "Berlinale 2023 Review: Lila Avilés' Spellbinding "Tótem" Puts a Hold On You". Moveable Fest. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  11. Romney, Jonathan (20 February 2023). "'Totem': Berlin Review". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  12. Ashioti, Marina (20 February 2023). "Tótem – first-look review". Little White Lies. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  13. Lemercier, Fabien (20 February 2023). "Review: Tótem". Cineuropa. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  14. Ramachandran, Naman; Vivarelli, Nick (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival Reveals Competition Lineup (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  15. Roxborough, Scott (25 February 2023). "Berlin: '20,000 Species of Bees,' 'Totem' Among Independent Jury Winners". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  16. Rosser, Michael (9 April 2023). "'Stonewalling', 'Totem' win top Hong Kong Firebird Awards". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
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