There’s great cinematography is Alvaro Olmos’ new film The Condor Daughter, which mostly makes up for some of the ways it frames its characters but that’s later. For now, let’s begin with Clara (Marisol Vallejos Montaño), listening to the radio that someone gives her.
That radio is a taste of freedom for the midwife assistant. It’s one of many to come. Living in the Quechua community, she also has a friend, Flora (Allison Jimenez), who’s more liberal. Choosing between Flora and Clara’s strict mother Ana (María Magdalena Sanizo) feels kinda easy so she leaves.
Clara’s departure coincides with the downfall of Ana’s midwifery practice as well as the community’s livestock. Ana takes it upon herself to bring Clara back with the help of Beatriz (Nely Huayta). They get credible leads, but will Ana’s stubbornness and traditionalism get the best of her?
Bolivia and its Quechua community get the festival spotlight in The Condor Daughter, which is good. There are nuances in its depiction of its binaries, rural and urban, etc. And yes, it depicts rural communities as ones with stubborn folk, but everyone finds it hard to do things differently.
Life has its conflicts and its sad moments, realities that The Condor Daughter reminds its viewers. It shows that loneliness sometimes comes after people don’t realize what other people need to hear. The stakes are high in this film but thankfully it has smidges of hope for its characters to live on for.
Image Credit: Courtesy of TIFF
- Genre: Drama
- Release Date: 9/9/2025
- Directed by: Álvaro Olmos
- Starring: Allison Jimenez, María Magdalena Sanizo, Marisol Vallejos Montaño, Nely Huayta
- Studio: Bendita Film Sales
