
Maria,asinglemotherinherearlyforties,needsmoneyandthussetsoffforajobasaharvestworkerwitharevolverinherpocketasaprecaution,leavingherdaughterTeresainthecareofhergoodfriendRosa.Atthefarm,MariaencountersRaúl,hersupervisorandformertormentor.Shesullenlycarriesoutherworkandsocializeslittlewiththeotherfemalelabourers.OnlyoccasionallydoesVioleta,ayounger,peroxideblondewithwhomMariasharesaroom,succeedinmotivatinghertaciturncompaniontogooutwithher.WhenRaúlonceagainabusesMaria,shesilentlyenduresherpain.However,whenVioletahasaseriousaccidentatworkshortlyafterwards,Mariadecidestotakerevenge:forallthepastscoresleftunsettled,thebrutalpowerstructuresandalltheexploitation.<br/> Castrotellsthisstorywithgreatcalmandquiettonality.ThecameraskilfullycapturesthetenseatmosphereofscorchingheatandenduringdroughtinnorthernChile,butalsotheimpassivebeautyofitsrurallocales.Thefilmsetsthevulnerabilityofthefemalebodyagainstitstoughnessandthetendersolidarityofwomen.berlinale2015


