Magalí

Upon her mother’s death, Magalí, who works as a nurse in Buenos Aires, returns post-haste to her hometown in the Andes; a forgotten far-away place in Jujuy in north-eastern Argentina at an altitude of 4.000 meters. She had left her son, Félix, with her mother back when she started her job in the capital. After the funeral, Magalí wants to return to Buenos Aires as soon as possible, but she has to play mother again and take her son with her. Félix refuses, because there is a cougar roaming the mountains at night hunting their cattle. According to ancient traditions, the spell has to be broken and mother and son have to perform certain rituals to chase away this cougar. Magalí is faced with a past she had left behind, at least that is what she thought.

This debut by director Juan Pablo Di Bitonto is on the cultural intersection between rational realism of the city and the magical realism of the original indigenous population, which is enhanced by the impressive photography of the jagged and looming landscape. Actress Eva Bianco plays Magalí with masterfully internalised emotion.