“Vainilla”, interview with director Mayra Hermosillo, actors Natalia Plascencia and María Castellá

September 6, 2025

"Vainilla", by director Mayra Hermosillo, masterfully blends humor with poignant moments, a balance that highlights the realities of family life.

"Vainilla", interview with director Mayra Hermosillo, actors Natalia Plascencia and María Castellá Cristiana Palmieri

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Presented at Giornate degli Autori at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, “Vainilla” strikes for its profound exploration of family, intimacy, and personal identity. Directed by Mayra Hermosillo, the film portrays Roberta, an eight-year-old girl navigating the complexities of her family of seven women as they fight to keep their home. Through this emotionally rich narrative, “Vainilla” delves into themes of emotional vulnerability, societal expectations, and authentic human connections.

“Vainilla” shines in its portrayal of familial relationships, capturing the authentic chaos, love, and conflicts within a family unit. Actors Natalia Plascencia and María Castellá portrayed characters Limbania and Alicia, childhood friends navigating their own paths amid family complexities. They described their acting experience as “free and natural,” thanks in part to the detailed costume design and the supportive environment created by Hermosillo. “We played with a lot of freedom. The characters reflect our own friendships, sometimes loving, sometimes fighting, but always genuine,” Plascencia shared.

Plot

In late 1980s Mexico, eight-year-old Roberta watches her family of seven women fight to save their home from mounting debt, a struggle that reshapes how she sees herself and those around her.

Written by: Cristiana Palmieri

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Film

Vainilla

Festival

Giornate degli Autori - Venezia

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“The Souffleur”, interview with the director Gaston Solnicki and the actor Willem Dafoe

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