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CATALINA AND THE SUN

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I'd recommend this artistic short film for the festival. The camera pays special attention to the contrast of colors abundant in Nature. The opening scene with the moon and the shadows of the night is enchanting. The director plays with colors all through the film: the color of the clothes the characters wear, the white dried salt lake, the background, etc. The story is, in a way, a vivid dream of Catalina where reality is mixed with fantasy and tradition. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Reviewed by Olga C.

Based on an old legend from Jujuy, Argentina, Catalina y el Sol uses to good effect the film medium's unique attributes to tell a story. The filmmaker employs stunning visuals, creative editing, evocative natural sounds (and silence) and folk music, varied close-ups and long-shots, camera movement, framing, and rhythm and pacing to reflect a mystical indigenous culture. Beautifully shot scenes of sun-drenched landscapes in vivid orange, yellow and white, and the cool silver and blues of the moon-lit night obscure waking and dreaming, fantasy and reality, life and death. With its natural vistas, masterful storytelling, and sensitive portrayal of a singular Argentinian culture, this film would be an interesting addition to any film festival. Reviewed by Ann B.

According to Catalina, if you want to see things clearly you need to close your eyes. The girl wanders across a vast salt lake under the blazing sun. According to her grandmother, the lake is made up of the dried tears of storytellers, for, in order for the sun to shine, a story must be sacrificed every day to the sun god Tata Inti. This is what the legend demands. Here in the highlands among llamas and cacti, Catalina is especially close to the sun. Her grandmother has already handed down an incredible number of stories to her and she must remember them all because, when her grandmother dies, it will be Catalina's turn. She is at one with the sun - and she has much to tell it.