If We Don't Burn, How Do We Light Up the Night
In this lyrical film, a preteen moves with her mother to a small Costa Rican village, where the girls whisper stories about a violet-haired monster living in the river and killing women.
Tween Laura and her mother move to a small Costa Rican village, bordered by a river and palm trees swaying in the wind. Gabi, the young daughter of mom’s new boyfriend, accepts her with open arms, and soon Laura makes another friend in nearly same-aged Daniela.
The camera follows the playing girls closely. The girls’ mundane yet magical world and their budding friendship are delicately and beautifully portrayed. Nevertheless, there’s something oppressive about the constant roar of the ventilators. The girls have to learn how to navigate in a world that isn’t always safe for them.
Amid pleasant swimming trips, Laura’s new friends tell her about the legend of the purple-haired, woman-killing monster that lives in the river.
Even though most of the adults around them seem safe, there’s a sense of the girls being in danger. The men are side characters, present only as memories, or at the outer edges of images, as dark shadows. The ugly side of patriarchal society shows up in offhanded remarks; according to legend “the monster only kills whores.” The threat of violence is ever- present, even if it is out of focus.
The first feature-length film by Costa Rican director Kim Torres is a captivating depiction of girlhood and the fear with which too many women have to live. The lyrical film doesn’t offer pre-processed solutions.
Kira Schroeder (translated by Ailiina Saaristo)
Screenings
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Kino TöölöSun 20.9. at 19.15–20.4691 min, 1/4
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Kino Engel 1Mon 21.9. at 21.00–22.3191 min, 2/4
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Kino Engel 2Fri 25.9. at 20.30–22.0191 min, 3/4
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Kino Engel 1Sun 27.9. at 21.00–22.3191 min, 4/4