The movie
Clara Sola
In the misty mountains of Costa Rica, 40-year-old Clara lives with her deeply pious mother, Dona Fresia, and spoiled adolescent niece Maria, doing double duty as a religious healer for villagers in candlelit ceremonies
Length: 106 min
Country: België, Zweden
Language spoken: Spaans
Language subtitles: Nederlands
Cast: Wendy Chinchilla Araya, Daniel Castañeda Rincón, Ana Julia Porras Espinoza, Flor María Vargas Chaves
Director: Nathalie Álvarez Mesén
Release date: 2021
Description
In the jungles of Costa Rica, 40-year-old Clara (Wendy Chinchilla Araya) lives with her repressive mother and spoiled niece. Out of tune with those around her—she may be on the autism spectrum—she feels more at home with insects and animals. According to her mother, Clara has powers given to her by the Virgin and so performs ‘miracles’ for the village folk. When a sympathetic young man comes on the scene, Clara, still a virgin, feels a strong sexual attraction. This newly awakened potency takes Clara into unexplored territory, allowing her to cross boundaries both physical and mystical…
‘What gives the film a force… is a commanding, charismatic lead by Wendy Chinchilla Araya… whose highly physical presence in turn evokes Clara’s sensitivity, isolation, vulnerability, fury and—despite the pressure to keep it hidden—powerful sexuality. It is her performance that, come the denouement, makes “Clara Sola” a defiant challenge to prejudice and repression.’—Jonathan Romney, Screen
‘What gives the film a force… is a commanding, charismatic lead by Wendy Chinchilla Araya… whose highly physical presence in turn evokes Clara’s sensitivity, isolation, vulnerability, fury and—despite the pressure to keep it hidden—powerful sexuality. It is her performance that, come the denouement, makes “Clara Sola” a defiant challenge to prejudice and repression.’—Jonathan Romney, Screen
