Walter Rodríguez, Catalina Saavedra – Marilyn #Berlinale2018

March 1, 2018

Walter Rodríguez, Catalina Saavedra - Marilyn #Berlinale2018 fredfilmradio

Podcast | Download

PODCAST| Mario Galasso interviews Walter Rodríguez and Catalina Saavedra, actors of the film Marilyn.

You might remember Catalina Saavedra: she was the lunatic Nana in the unforgotten black comedy La Nana – The Maid, by Sebastian Silva (2009) – she plays the mother to an outstanding young actor (Walter Rodríguez) for the first time on the big screen, playing a troubled teen looking for love and acceptance, whose identity is painfully refused by the little community he tries to cohabit with: of course, the story takes a very, very dark turn.

Marilyn: There’s not much going on in this part of rural Argentina where a shy young man named Marcos lives with his family. Theirs is a modest existence, where gender roles are clearly demarcated. The hot summer doesn’t make life any easier, but money needs to be earned and the herd of cattle must be kept together. Marcos manages to carve out little islands of freedom during his routine; in these moments he likes to put make-up on his childlike face or slip into colourful dresses behind closed doors. Carnival is just around the corner; this year’s event will change Marcos’ life as dramatically as the family’s unexpected relocation. Martín Rodríguez Redondo’s cinematic debut is a tender portrait of youth and initially repressed self-discovery, told with serene understatement, devoid of guiding music. The roar of motorbikes promises both freedom and danger and, although there appears to be no escape from this world, the situation is far from hopeless for at some point young Federico appears on the scene. The images are contemplative and the narrative linear, yet the course taken by the film’s seemingly predictable trajectory is nonetheless surprising. A story based on true events.