Tótem
dir. Lila Avilés · 2023
Life is a complex interplay of joy and sorrow, where moments of celebration are deeply intertwined with the weight of family expectations and the passage of time.
Sol, a seven-year-old girl, navigates the bustling preparations for her father's birthday party, feeling the weight of familial expectations and the bittersweet nature of the celebration. As the day unfolds, the tension between joy and dread becomes palpable, revealing the complexities of love and obligation within her family. Watching this film is like stepping into a warm yet fraught household, where every laugh and tear carries the weight of unspoken truths.
In a bustling Mexican household, seven-year-old Sol is swept up in a whirlwind of preparations for the birthday party for her father, Tona, led by her mother, aunts, and other relatives. As the day goes on, building to an event both anticipated and dreaded, Sol begins to understand the gravity of the celebration this year and watches as her family does the same.
