La Soledad is a 2016 drama film and the directorial debut of Venezuelan filmmaker Jorge Thielen Armand.[1] It premiered in the 73rd Venice International Film Festival.[2] The production received the financial support of The Venice Biennale College and it is a co-production between Venezuela, Canada and Italy.[3][4]

La Soledad
Poster
Directed byJorge Thielen Armand
Written by
  • Jorge Thielen Armand
  • Rodrigo Michelangeli
Produced by
  • Adriana Herrera
  • Rodrigo Michelangeli
  • Jorge Thielen Armand
  • Manon Ardisson
Starring
  • José Dolores López
  • Adrializ López
  • Jorge Roque Thielen
  • Marley Alvillares
  • María del Carmen Agámez
CinematographyRodrigo Michelangeli
Edited byFelipe Guerrero
Production
companies
  • La Faena
  • Alfarería Cinematográfica
  • Ardimages UK
Release date
  • September 2016 (2016-09) (Venice Film Festival)
Countries
  • Venezuela
  • Canada
  • Italy
LanguageSpanish

Plot

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The inspiration for filming La Soledad emerged from the childhood memories and experiences of the director in the family house of his grandparents, in the city of Caracas, Venezuela. After living abroad for years, he came back to the country to shoot in that same house a film that sways between documentary and fiction.

The house, which is itself a character, has been practically abandoned by the director's family and is about to collapse. It is now the home of new occupants: Rosina, who was formerly an employee of the owners, and her grandson José. The "proprietors" decide to demolish it and "the squatters" must seek a new place to live in. The film portrays core issues of contemporary Venezuelan society.

Cast

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  • José Dolores López
  • Adrializ López
  • Jorge Roque Thielen H.
  • Marley Alvillares
  • María del Carmen Agámez

Reception

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Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com wrote that La Soledad was "poetic and ultimately devastating".[5] Leslie Felperin of The Guardian expressed: "This promising debut feature opens up gradually, like a fragrant but potentially poisonous night-blooming flower".[6]

Additionally, it received the Honorable Mention at the 4th edition of La Casa Cine Fest[7] and at the 48th edition of the Nashville Film Festival.[8][9]

Awards and nominations

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Award Category Recipient(s) Result References
Festival Biarritz Amérique-Latine Prix du Syndicat Français de la critique de cinéma Jorge Thielen Armand Winner [10][11]
Miami International Film Festival Audience Award for Best Film Jorge Thielen Armand Winner [12][13]
Atlanta Film Festival Jury Prize Jorge Thielen Armand Winner [14][15]
Rhode Island International Film Festival First Prize Jorge Thielen Armand Winner [16]
Cinema Tropical Awards Best Latin American First Film Jorge Thielen Armand Winner [17]
International Durban Film Festival Best Screenplay Jorge Thielen Armand, Rodrigo Michelangeli Winners [18]
Best Editing Felipe Guerrero Winner
Festival de Cine Latinoamericano de La Plata Best Film Jorge Thielen Armand Winner [19]
Festival del Cine Venezolano Best First Film Jorge Thielen Armand Winner [20]
Best Sound Mario Nazoa Winner

References

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  1. ^ "Jorge Thielen Armand". John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  2. ^ "History of the Venice Film Festival". La Biennale di Venezia. 2017-12-07. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  3. ^ "Biennale College Cinema". Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  4. ^ "Biennale College Cinema". Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  5. ^ Kenny, Glenn. "Venice Film Festival 2016: The Biennale College | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  6. ^ "La Soledad review – a flower of a film amid the ruins of Caracas". the Guardian. 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  7. ^ "4th edition La Casa Cine Fest Film Festival" (PDF).
  8. ^ "48th edition of the Nashville Film Festival" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Berlinale Talents Project - LA SOLEDAD". Berlinale Talents. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  10. ^ "2017". Festival de Biarritz América Latina (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  11. ^ "LA SOLEDAD". Festival de Biarritz América Latina (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  12. ^ "LA SOLEDAD". Miami Film Festival 2017. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  13. ^ "Venezuelan Film LA SOLEDAD Wins Audience Award at the Miami Film Fest". Cinema Tropical. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  14. ^ Review®, The Peach (2017-04-03). "Atlanta Film Festival Award Winners". THE PEACH REVIEW®. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  15. ^ McAllister, Cameron. "Atlanta Film Festival Announces 2017 Lineup of Features and Short Films". Atlanta Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  16. ^ "2017 RIIFF Awards". www.film-festival.org. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  17. ^ "8th Cinema Tropical Awards". Cinema Tropical. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  18. ^ "All the winners at the 38th Durban International Film Festival". Channel. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  19. ^ "12° FESAALP EDICIÓN 2017". FESAALP (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  20. ^ "XIII Festival del Cine Venezolano 2017". Festival del cine venezolano. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
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