Chilean directors Pedro Peirano and Sebastián Silva, who previously collaborated on the acerbic drama The Maid, have crafted a richly textured portrait of an aging actress’ descent into a frightening and fantastical world of dementia.

In this poignant and unusual work, Peirano and Silva chose to cast real-life husband and wife actors Bélgica Castro (Isadora) and Alejandro Sievking (Enrique) as the elderly couple. Senorita Castro is 90, and her spouse is 76. Filmed in their actual charmingly cluttered Santiago apartment amidst their porcine pussycats, the film has a feeling of authenticity that draws us in and makes the situation heart-wrenchingly poignant. Family conflict comes to a head when the couple’s rebellious lesbian daughter and her lover come to visit. By utilizing subjective cinematography, a dash of magical realism and drawing upon the deep personal relationship of their leads, the filmmakers have created one of the most memorable films to come out of Latin America last year. Anyone who is a fan of Federico Fellini will immediately be reminded of his wife and muse, Giulietta Masina, when they look into Srta. Castro’s wide, bewildered eyes. (Spanish with English subtitles) -- Jennifer Steinberg