In the remote region of Santiago del Estero in northern Argentina, a young teenager struggles with his identity and the prejudices of those around him. To protect him from homophobic attacks, his deeply religious family temporarily moves to the countryside. There, a legend circulates about the Almamula, a monster that punishes those who indulge in carnal sins. During the hot summer days, the boundaries between reality and dreams become blurred, and the boy is magically drawn to the enticing secrets of the surrounding forest. The film ALMAMULA by Juan Sebastián Torales masterfully combines elements of the coming-of-age drama with mystical and folkloric motifs. It explores themes of sexual identity, religious oppression and the search for self-acceptance in a conservative society. The impressive portrayal of the protagonist, played by Nicolás Díaz, captivates the audience and allows them to delve deeply into the boy's emotional world. ALMAMULA celebrated its world premiere in February 2023 at the Berlinale in the Generation 14plus section. The film has also been shown at numerous international festivals, including the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, where it won the award for best debut film, and the Chicago International Film Festival, where it received an honorable mention in the Out-Look Competition. These recognitions underscore the relevance and emotional depth of the film, which has thrilled both critics and audiences worldwide.
Keywords
- Berlinale
- Best first feature
- LGBTQIA+
- San Sebastian Film Festival
- South America Cinema
- Summertime Movies
- Where Art-House Cinema Meets Science Fiction
- Coming of Age
- family
- latin america
- queer
- religion
Actors
- Nicolás Díaz
- María Soldi
- Cali Coronel
- Martina Grimaldi
- Luisa Lucía Paz
Director
- Juan Sebastian Torales
To protect their gay son, a family moves to the countryside, but there they are confronted with conservatism, religion and folkloric superstition.
In the remote region of Santiago del Estero in northern Argentina, a young teenager struggles with his identity and the prejudices of those around him. To protect him from homophobic attacks, his deeply religious family temporarily moves to the countryside. There, a legend circulates about the Almamula, a monster that punishes those who indulge in carnal sins. During the hot summer days, the boundaries between reality and dreams become blurred, and the boy is magically drawn to the enticing secrets of the surrounding forest.
The film ALMAMULA by Juan Sebastián Torales masterfully combines elements of the coming-of-age drama with mystical and folkloric motifs. It explores themes of sexual identity, religious oppression and the search for self-acceptance in a conservative society. The impressive portrayal of the protagonist, played by Nicolás Díaz, captivates the audience and allows them to delve deeply into the boy's emotional world.
ALMAMULA celebrated its world premiere in February 2023 at the Berlinale in the Generation 14plus section. The film has also been shown at numerous international festivals, including the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, where it won the award for best debut film, and the Chicago International Film Festival, where it received an honorable mention in the Out-Look Competition. These recognitions underscore the relevance and emotional depth of the film, which has thrilled both critics and audiences worldwide.