Meet Valentina: she’s nine years old, and when she dons a rag as a cape, her imagination transforms her into a superhero with powers over the wind, the earth and the trees. But an unexpected event devastates her: her father dies in an accident, and she must deal with his absence, comprehend death and relearn how to live the life that follows. After the wonderful Nudo mixteco (¡Viva! 2020), Ángeles Cruz’s second feature returns to her community in Villa Guadalupe Victoria, Oaxaca, taking inspiration from her own experience of loss at this tender age. The Mexican filmmaker delves into the forest to create a moving story of the curative power of love overcoming grief, as Valentina seeks to recover her father between the depths of the river and the infinity of the stars.
Plus/ This film will be preceded by La Rampa (Dir Juanfer Andrés/15 mins). Justo puts on a brave face for his beloved granddaughter living with paraplegic cerebral palsy, despite physically struggling with getting to her daily minibus collection point. While most neighbours and passersby are unhelpful, one young woman shines as a beacon of hope and solidarity.
Event/ The screening on Wed 17 Apr was introduced by Dr Carmen Herrero, Manchester Metropolitan University, with BSL interpretation. You can read notes from Carmen’s intro here.
You can now select your favourite seats in our cinema!
We’re rolling out reserved seating across our cinemas, starting with ¡Viva! This is to improve access for audiences and provide an even better customer experience.