With ¡Viva! in full swing, HOME Digital Reporter Radhaika Kapur reviews coming-of-age feature Miriam miente…
Miriam miente is a reflective film focused on identity and race, where the rose-tinted glasses of youth are snatched away from the young protagonist.
Miriam is at the pinnacle of her adolescence, nervously awaiting her 15th birthday. Whilst new boyfriends, bodily changes and the latest music trends preoccupy her peers, Miriam struggles with a deeper anxiety. Set in the Dominican Republic, Miriam miente (Miriam Lies) is the first fiction film by documentary producing couple Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada. 2014’s You and Me was a detailed examination of tensions and companionship across racial and class divides between two older women. With Miriam miente, Cabral and Estrada powerfully examine how similar issues incrementally disrupt the happiness of the eponymous heroine.
As a mixed-race child of divorced parents, Miriam exists in a liminal space, forced to navigate a confusing array of social norms around race. These are compounded by the stark differences in wealth between high society and those on its margins. Being shy, Miriam (Dulce Rodriguez) solely finds vibrancy in the company of her peers. In scenes with best friend Jennifer (Carolina Rohana), the use of upbeat music and pastel colours gratifyingly contrasts the film’s overarching tone of dejection. Carolina Rohana plays Miriam’s best friend with a perfect playfulness and endearing warmth.
With her birthday party fast-approaching, Miriam is pleased to find a potential date online. But as with so many aspects of her life, this is not without its complications. One exciting part of this film is the cutaways to Miriam’s fantasy of meeting the mystery boy, set in an aquarium. Though infrequent these episodes are sweet and indulgent, leaving the viewer intrigued.
Miriam miente is also a sharp commentary on parenthood. Preoccupied with their own vanities and social status, Miriam’s parents fail to prepare their daughter for the discrimination she faces. The directors highlight the intense claustrophobia and isolation Miriam experiences through the use of prolonged close-up shots. Notably though, we also witness the self-reliance and bravery of the young protagonist as she broaches taboo questions. This is actress Dulce Rodriguez’s first film, which she plays with great composure. She, on the one hand, conveys a deep strength in the young Miriam. However her lack of reactivity is sometimes inconceivable given Miriam’s age and experiences.
The film has a strongly reflective tone and highlights issues of acute importance. Being set in the present day, it reminds the viewer that troubling and insidious forms of racism and classism persist in the Dominican Republic. The intractable nature of these issues is largely attributed to the silence that surrounds them. With around 80% of Dominicans currently identifying as “Indo” – a phrase intended to mean in-between “blackness” and “whiteness”, there is a climate of deep evasion and denial of one’s ancestry. Miriam miente therefore serves an important purpose in drawing attention to the cumulative damage of these norms. Though she is trapped in many ways, Miriam’s journey makes her a heroine amongst the complicity of her community.
Miriam miente screens as part of ¡Viva! on Thu 4 April at 20:30. Find out more and book your tickets here.