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© DR -NAVIDAD de Sébastian Campos-Lelio- Chili(2009) p9
20/04/2013 17:14
Intense Three-Character Drama of Alienation
Author: l_rawjalaurence from London
17 November 2013
Set on Christmas Eve, NAVIDAD (Christmas) focuses on the lives of three teenagers (Manuela Martelli, Diego Ruiz, Alicia Rodriguez), who have all been alienated from their families in some way: one is on a fruitless quest for her father; another has been expelled by his father from school; and the third is looking for evidence of her dead father's lives.
They pass the night away in a lonely house belonging to Aurora's (Martelli's) dead father. Faced with the prospect of fending for themselves, all three of them acquire self-reliance; but at the same time director Sebastian Lelio continually uses images (of things blowing in the wind, or of cars traveling along a road) to suggest that their dreams of fulfillment are ephemeral: sooner or later they will have to return to their humdrum lives, however unsatisfactory those lives might be.
Nonetheless the film celebrates the teenagers' dreams; for a brief moment Aurora communes with her dead father as she discovers some of his old LP records; while Alejandro (Ruiz) finds the kind of deep love and companionship denied him by his family. Alicia (Rodriguez) is the unluckiest of all, as she discovers how her mother has been lying to her throughout her life about her father.
Yet she learns to cope with such traumas, chiefly by association with the other two teenagers. NAVIDAD is an intense piece, composed of lengthy shots with little music to leaven the tension. However it is definitely worth watching.
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© DR -NAVIDAD de Sébastian Campos-Lelio- Chili(2009) p11
20/04/2013 17:19
à droite : le réalisateur
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La critique des INROCKS
Le soir de Noël, Aurora s’introduit avec son petit ami dans la maison de son père mort afin de récupérer ses vinyles. Le couple en crise (elle l’a trompé avec une fille) fait la connaissance d’une adolescente fragile et perdue, un peu plus jeune qu’eux, dont ils apprennent qu’elle a fugué.
Au fil de la soirée, les confidences ayant succédé à un temps d’observation et d’approche un peu artificiel, un lien à la fois sensuel et familial se tisse entre les trois personnages, qui deviennent amants tout en semblant former une fratrie.
Cette alliance inattendue, d’une douceur extrême, est l’élément le plus réussi de ce huis clos habile et délicat dont le charme (dû à la qualité de jeu des acteurs) se dissipe, hélas, un peu vite. La faute sans doute à une mise en scène qui ne parvient pas à dépasser les limites du bon théâtre filmé.
Amélie Dubois
Critique Anglo
Teenagers Aurora and her friend Alejandro break into a deserted house in the countryside. Aurora quickly begins rummaging through abandoned objects in the dusty rooms in search of some old music albums. Her unsuccessful hunt evokes memories, but it also makes her increasingly restless.
Alejandro notices how distant Aurora is, even distracted in their lovemaking. His sulking finally gives way to confrontation and he confesses to Aurora that he is aware of her ambiguous relationship with a certain Luisa. Aurora's confusing explanations only make Alejandro more upset. Full of uncertainty and jealousy, Alejandro decides to leave Aurora alone, even though it is Christmas Eve.
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© DR -NAVIDAD de Sébastian Campos-Lelio- Chili(2009) p12
20/04/2013 17:27
On his way out, Alejandro discovers an intruder -- a teenage girl passed out in the greenhouse. The mysterious Alicia is a diabetic, weak from a lack of sugar. Alejandro and Aurora take her in and revive her, but she runs off before they can learn more about her.
Still badgered by Alejandro, Aurora admits her liaison with Luisa, but says that she is still confused about her actions. Their standoff is interrupted when Alicia returns for her forgotten diary and medication.
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© DR -NAVIDAD de Sébastian Campos-Lelio- Chili(2009) p13
20/04/2013 17:31
A little older than the vulnerable Alicia, Aurora and Alejandro naturally fall into a touching process of sheltering and advising her. They also feel a growing fascination for the enigmatic young woman. As the unlikely trio shares their feelings, a common bond of family issues emerges...
Alicia is desperate to meet her long lost father. Alejandro has a difficult relationship with his strict disciplinarian father. And nostalgic Aurora has come to this abandoned house for her
dead father's record collection.The three troubled teenagers soon discover a closeness that will soothe their alienation and loneliness, even if only for the night ...
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© DR -NAVIDAD de Sébastian Campos-Lelio- Chili(2009) p14
20/04/2013 17:35
Entretien avec Sebastian Lelio, réalisateur de Navidad
-Q : Les périodes de vacances vous inspirent...
-C L :"C'est vrai qu'après les fêtes de Pâques pour La Sagrada Familia, j’ai choisi les vacances de Noël pour Navidad. Les rituels familiaux sont des cadres intéressants pour bâtir une histoire. Les vacances de Noël ou de Pâques sont par nature vécues avec un état émotif spécifique, compte tenu de l’environnement familal, voire spirituel.
Ce qui m’intéresse, c’est le contraste entre leur place dans l’inconscient collectif,et les particularités d’une histoire individuelle - la passion,la confusion des sentiments. Ces vacances sont une toile de fond “morale”qui contraste avec l’humanité élémentaire des personnages.
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