
WhoeverknowsthesingularworkbythegreatfilmmakerIgnacioAgüerro,orevenjusthislastfilm,ComomedalaGana2(InternationalGrandPrixatFID2017),willnotbesurprisedatalltohearthathisnewfilmundertakes,onceagain,toweavetogether,verytightly,ontheonehand,whatisprivate,intimate,autobiographical–includingitssecrets,and,ontheotherhand,whatispublic,obvious,outintheopen.IhaveneverclimbeduplaProvincia,asthetitlereads,mentionsthismountainontheoutskirtsofSantiago,toindicatethatitisclosetohome,inhisneighbourhood,evenatanearbycrossroads,thatanascenttookplace,thatitisinthisfamiliarandcircumscribedspacethatagorgeouslandscape canbeseen,wherethewholefilmunfolds,aswellastheveryexistenceofthedirector.Thatiswhythecameraneverceasestofilmthesamepanningshotsrepeatedly,throughouttheyears.Filmingthesamebuildings,streets,trafficlights,inhabitants,craftsmen,shopkeepers,bums,etc.,photographingthechangeofshopwindows,recordingthestabilityofthespaceatthesametimeasthepassingoftime.Butalsothesefetishes,asreassuringlandmarks,arelinkedtopiecesofliveswiththeonlypurposeofglorifyingthemoment:thefootofaman,apregnantwoman’sbelly,aplayingchild,theraininagarden,etc.Gracefully,withcontinuousfragilityandplayfulcuriosity,thefilmmovesforwardwithresumptionsandstrokes,likealovepoemceaselesslydistrustfulofheights.(J.P.R.)
