Ibero-American directors have long been the main voices in the evolution of female reality on the continent. For his fourth feature film, Argentina’s Inés María Barrionuevo returns to look at the universe of adolescence with “Camila will be out tonight”betting on a feature film that shows how this vital stage of the human being is much more multifaceted than it seems and, moreover, It is in tune with current social and civil movements in relation to the protection of women’s rights.
Presented in the Official Section of the 69th edition of the San Sebastian Film Festival, ‘Camila will be out tonight’ is a mission statement with its own titlewhich can have many meanings but, in particular, remember that when women go out at night they face very different situations than men. Barrionuevo, who signs the screenplay together with Andrés Aloi, continues with a beginning that makes a sort of rapid historical memory exercise of the struggle of feminism in the South American country, recalling the latest achievement in terms of rights, the complete decriminalization of abortion up to week 14 and the certainty that it can be accessed for free.
Although reality has made the present look towards the north side of the American continent, ‘Camila will be out tonight’ recalls the fragility of a right, be it just acquired or taken for granted. It does so through the change experienced by its protagonist, a splendid Nina Dziembrowski, who passes from studies in a liberal public high school in Mar de Plata to a private conservative high school in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires. In the same reality, the young woman sees how her comfort zone, her circle of friends and her social bubble are shattered to enter hostile territory.
Reflection of a feminist and combative adolescence
Barrionuevo does not configure a pessimistic story, on the contrary, it gives its protagonist an incredible inner strength, who does not shy away from adversity, but faces them with a confidence that is almost inappropriate for a teenager. Here it is also observed that the director chooses to create a much more complex main character than those usually seen in coming-of-age films. It gives her naturalness and spontaneity, especially in the way the young woman is fluid in her sexual awakening.which gives a certain sense of realism.
The interesting thing is that Barrionuevo does not transform her protagonist into a perfect heroine, but takes advantage of it to show her flaws, as well as some typical weaknesses of her youth, such as impetuousness. This is reflected in his relationship with his mother, a divorced woman who has to deal with her mother’s illness and whose daughter is unable to see what she is suffering from until the situation simmers. Here, The director remembers that although she is very clear about what she wants and what she doesn’t want, she is still a potential woman, who learns as she grows up and has life experience. Fascinating how she weaves it, with a naturalness in which Adriana Ferrer also stands out as Camila’s mother.
Supported by a young cast that creates that typical feeling of energy of those ages, ‘Camila will come out tonight’ is a cinematic exercise that combines typical elements of adolescent films with a more political, combative and activist perspective, whose message is direct and reaches the target. An example of the solidity of a filmmaker who has gone further in every new project and who remembers that the struggle for women’s rights is continuous.
Note: 8
The best: The naturalness of Nina Dziembrowski’s interpretation.
Worse: The teen cast is too cliché in some respects.
Source: E Cartelera
