El castillo
The CastleThe film’s mixture of documentary-style footage and dramatised scenes tinged with horror turns the house into an enchanted castle that refuses to let go of its inhabitants. The patchy mobile phone reception becomes a metaphor for the pair’s marginalisation as they struggle with their circumstances. The insurmountable class barriers that exist in Argentina serve to hold Justina captive in her social class, even after she herself becomes a house and land owner. A dark fairy tale.
With
- Justina Olivo (Justina)
- Alexia Caminos Olivo (Alexia)
Crew
Director | Martín Benchimol |
Screenplay | Martín Benchimol |
Cinematography | Nico Miranda, Fernando Lorenzale |
Editing | Ana Remón |
Music | Jose Manuel Gatica |
Sound Design | Sofía Straface |
Sound Mixing | Christophe Vingtrinier |
Sound | Paula Ramirez |
Colour Correction | Lucie Bruneteau |
Producers | Mayra Bottero, Gema Juárez Allen, Clarisa Oliveri |
Co-Producers | Heidi Fleisher, Julie Paratian |
Co-Production | Sister Productions Paris |
World Sales
Produced by
Gema Films
Martín Benchimol
The director, screenwriter and cinematographer was born in Argentina in 1985. His short film A Robust Heart premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. He made La gente del río and El espanto with Pablo Aparo. El castillo is his debut feature film as a solo director.
Filmography
2012 La gente del río; co-director: Pablo Aparo 2017 El espanto; co-director: Pablo Aparo 2022 A Robust Heart; short film 2023 El castillo (The Castle)
Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023