Institute History
Description
In a remarkable feature-film debut, Ernesto Contreras gently explores solitude and the quest for love in Mexico. Marina works at a uniform factory, and one day wins an all-expense-paid trip for two from her employer—a trip to a beach paradise. Unfortunately, because of her solitude, she doesn’t have anyone to invite as her guest. When Victor unexpectedly presents himself to her as an old friend from high school, she doesn’t remember. But it seems that Marina does not remember anything as she quietly wanders through her daily life—as if life is passing her by without any meaning or memory.
Set in a modern Mexican megalopolis, a world filled with pale shades of blue, the film showcases Contreras’s steady direction and Cecilia Suárez and Enrique Arreola’s wonderful performances, which lend a quiet inertia to the film as they seek love and connectedness. Sometimes we’re not quite sure if they're really lonely or want to fall in love, which is often demonstrated with great awkwardness. But the sweetness lies in Marina and Victor’s continual efforts to keep trying and seeking, which is a lesson many of us could take as we journey through our lives.