French actress Marion Cotillard stars in 'Karma', a film largely shot in Port de la Selva, Alt Empordà. The movie, directed by Guillaume Canet, premiered out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 'Karma', Cotillard plays Jeanne, a woman working in a fish cannery who lives with an Argentinian carpenter, Leonardo Sbaraglia, in an Empordà village. Jeanne is a survivor of an endogamous religious cult and struggles with trauma, leading to unstable behaviour. Her past catches up with her when her son disappears while under her care, prompting the investigating commissioner, Luis Zahera, to suspect her.
Jeanne decides to return to France to confront her past. The film shows Cotillard in a less glamorous role, portraying a character who drinks heavily and often misses work. Denis Ménochet plays the imposing leader of the cult from which Jeanne escaped, delivering a strong performance that helps sustain interest in the film, despite some improbable plot twists, according to Ara Cat.
Costa Brava's Cinematic Appeal
The Costa Brava continues to attract international film productions, 75 years after 'Pandora and the Flying Dutchman' was filmed there. This time, instead of Ava Gardner in Tossa de Mar, it is Cotillard in Port de la Selva. Canet wrote 'Karma' for Cotillard, his former wife, with whom he separated shortly after filming.
Ara Cat notes that while Canet enjoys thrillers, his storytelling lacks the grip needed for intense narratives, a point also observed in his 2013 film 'Blood Ties'. Despite this, the strong performances by Cotillard and Ménochet keep the audience engaged until the predictable ending.
Diego Luna's 'Ceniza en la Boca' Explores Migration in Catalonia
Barcelona is a primary setting for 'Ceniza en la boca' (Ashes in the Mouth), a film directed by actor Diego Luna, which also premiered in the non-competitive Special Screenings section at Cannes. Based on Brenda Navarro's book of the same name, the film follows Lucila, who leaves Mexico for Madrid to follow her mother and find work. She endures abusive jobs while caring for her troubled younger brother.
Eventually, Lucila moves to Barcelona, seeking a different life. Although jobs remain precarious, she lives with other young women and enjoys a sense of freedom, going out and meeting people, a dream that ends with tragedy. Ara Cat praises Luna's film for its honest portrayal of Latin American immigration in Catalonia, capturing both the difficulties faced by migrants and their resilience.
The film avoids paternalism, showing the energy and desire to live fully, rather than just 'surviving', as Lucila's brother puts it. The final section of the film, set in Mexico, frames the issue within the broader context of systemic violence that many migrants face, whether they return home or not.
