Valentina or the Serenity‘s titular character (Danae Ahuja Aparicio) is one of two children in her Mexican town who wears a cape. This is indicative that she wants to stay a child even if the adult world’s realities are going to start creeping into her life. One of those realities is her father’s accidental death, and she deals with it in many ways. One of them involves her going to the river because she’s sure that she can her her father there.
Most people hear Mexico and still see visions of arid deserts. Thankfully, I’m lucky to experience Mexico representing itself through cinema. And with Valentina, director Angeles Cruz and her crew show its lush beauty and emerald rivers. It’s the perfect place for Valentina to play, but also to her mother’s (Myriam Bravo), a place where she can worry about another person in her family. Back to the visuals though, this is a film that benefits from newer cinematography, capable of capturing nature’s beauty.
Aside from its cinematography, Valentina or the Serenity is actually pretty good at what it represents. It’s good as a festival entry for international viewers and as something I imagine local cinemagoers would enjoy. It represents Mixtec, a language that Valentina wants to learn, as well Santeria, one of the things that can cure her depression. A part of me wants to have seen more of Valentina’s other siblings, but focusing on two or three main characters make this film flow slightly better.
- Rated: NR
- Genre: Drama
- Release Date: 9/8/2023
- Directed by: Angeles Cruz
- Starring: Danae Ahuja Aparicio, Myriam Bravo
- Produced by: Angeles Cruz, Isis Ahumada
- Written by: Angeles Cruz
