Spanish Films at SIFF Explore Spectrums of Intersectional Experiences
Courtesy of SIFF
Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world. Much like any language that has been spread far and wide, it has evolved into distinct dialects, vocabulary, and cultural significance based on the place it has taken root. This year's Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) boasts a fantastic assortment of Spanish language films. Not only that, there are also two films in Basque, a language and a people whose ancestral lands span a portion of Spain and France.
Funnily enough, though, the three Spanish-language films that really excited me this year all come from Mexico. Like Mexico itself, these films are unique to their places and diverse in their storytelling. They take place in the ancient forests of untold beauty, the city with its grit and glamor, and the vast plains where the rancheros roam.
Haunting in tone with its connection to nature is The Garden We Dreamed, directed by Joaquin del Paso. The film is about a blended family of Haitian immigrants who amongst themselves speak Haitian French, looking for a better life after the large earthquake that hit the island in 2021. Though they are well on their way to heading farther north, they have to survive in the meantime and find work with a logging operation that’s shadier than it seems. The beauty of the film is in the contemplative moments as Junior (Faustin Pierre) thinks about his place in the world. There are long stretches where Junior is staring off or working with his hands. We see a man who has felt trapped for so long, and even if he is not exactly where he wants to be, for the first time he feels free. It is a film that does not skimp on hardship, but never lets us forget the miraculous as well.
We go to the city for a film about a more nefarious miracle. Fifteen (Quince), directed by Jack and Yossy Zagha, is an outrageous horror comedy. Ligia (Greta Marti), on the cusp of her quinceañera, is impregnated by the demon who infected her boyfriend. It is up to her best friend Mayte (Macarena Oz) to try to save Ligia, or kill her, before it’s too late. The film evokes great high school horror like Jennifer's Body and Ginger Snaps. Yet Fifteen forges its own path through gruesome bullies and evil administrators. There’s an intriguing look at the haves and have nots that exist in the same microcosm of this all-girls school. Not all the rich girls are stuck up and not all the poor girls have hearts of gold. The climax of the film is a supreme spectacle and, because of the great lead performances, is tremendously affecting as well.
Spectacle is on display too in the rough-and-tumble masculine world of Jaripeo, directed by Efrain Mojica and Rebecca Zweig. A jaripeo is a Mexican-style rodeo, which has the traditional rodeo events mixed with gallons of alcohol and dancing in the dirt of the arena at the end. The film is a documentary where co-director Efrain Mojica is both interviewer and subject. This world of cowboys is all about the macho aesthetic, but right underneath is an underground of Queer people who use the jaripeo celebrations to explore and connect with one another. The secret language of touch, looks, and code words is its own kind of dance. There are dream-like sequences and beautiful handheld film shots amongst the harsh digital footage of the events. It is an ethereal glimpse into a world of people who both are and aren't free to be who they are and who they want to be with. The complicated nature of queer masculinity is laid bare in an exquisite way.
Other highlights of the Ibero American program include the aforementioned two films in Basque. The first is Gaua, a medieval tale set in a remote village with three interconnected stories revelling in witchcraft and mythology. The other is Maspalomas, about an aging gay man sent to a nursing home where he is forced back into the closet.
There is a wealth of incredible filmmaking in the Spanish speaking community. The films are as diverse and intriguing as the filmmakers who bring them to life. No matter the mood you are in you can find a film in Spanish that will scratch the itch for a particular genre. SIFF is a great place to discover a new favorite and to develop a new appreciation of what the world outside English speaking cinema has to offer.
