SUJO
Juan Jesús Varela in SUJO
Ominous, heartbreaking, and beautifully shot, the Sundance 2024 film SUJO, from Fernanda Valadez and Astrid Rondero (Identifying Features), examines cyclical violence and trauma through the lives of the family left behind by a murdered cartel member.
Nemesia hides her nephew Sujo with the help of Rosalia and her two young sons, Jeremy and Jai. During early childhood, the five exist in abject poverty in the middle of nowhere, entertaining themselves as best as they can, knowing someday the isolation may be too much. As the boys grow, curiosity puts them into increasingly more precarious situations, proving the danger of their familial sins lingers forever.
Young Kevin Aguilar, as four-year-old Sujo, is beguiling. The camera loves him. Juan Jesús Varela plays teenaged Sujo, left to carry the emotional burdens of his father’s past. Varela’s performance is magnificent, as are his onscreen cousins, Jairo Hernandez and Alexis Varela. Their chemistry is magic.
Yadira Pérez gives Nemesia an authentically grounded aura. Her practical and watchful approach to raising Sujo gives him an emotional stronghold. Nemesia literally translates as “Vengeance.” This small detail is as brilliant as her vital otherworldly abilities. Karla Garrido brings an entirely different level of motherly kindness playing Rosalia. She is a beautiful foil for Pérez.
The film comes from an almost entirely female creative team whose blood, sweat, and tears pour off the screen. SUJO is infused with empathy, fear, and care. The screenplay is a skillfully crafted tale that pulls you into Sujo’s center of gravity. As a Mother, witnessing the integration of protective instincts speaks volumes. The score is haunting. At times, the dialogue mirrors Sujo’s journey. It is undeniably impactful. Throughout the film, women look out for Sujo’s best interests. In a way, the film is an ode to invisible labor.
For more information on SUJO screenings fn Sundance 2024, click here!
Credits
- DIRECTOR(S)
ASTRID RONDERO
FERNANDA VALADEZ
- SCREENWRITERS
ASTRID RONDERO
FERNANDA VALADEZ
- PRODUCERS
FERNANDA VALADEZ
ASTRID RONDERO
DIANA ARCEGA
JEWERL KEATS ROSS
VIRGINIE DEVESA
JEAN-BAPTISTE BAILLY-MAITRE
- CINEMATOGRAPHER
XIMENA AMANN
- PRODUCTION DESIGNER
BELÉN ESTRADA
- EDITORS
ASTRID RONDERO
FERNANDA VALADEZ
SUSAN KORDA
- PRINCIPAL CAST
JUAN JESÚS VARELA
YADIRA PÉREZ
ALEXIS VARELA
SANDRA LORENZANO
JAIRO HERNÁNDEZ
KEVIN AGUILAR
- YEAR
2024
- CATEGORY
FEATURE
- COUNTRY
MEXICO/UNITED STATES/FRANCE
- LANGUAGE
SPANISH
- RUN TIME
126 MIN
Every once in a blue moon a film comes along that pushes you past your own emotional boundaries. The heaviness of the stories in Identifying Features swallows you whole. You are forced to confront the realities that are far too often swept under the political rug here in the US and are dreaded in Mexico. With a score that vibrates your already unsettled soul, the handheld cinematography puts you in the shoes of any one of these individuals getting shoved back across the border… And those who don’t ever make it. The alternating scenes from a mother to a son build up a visceral tension to an ending that is beyond shocking. The intimacy of the sound editing and long lingering beautifully shot close-ups force you to remain engaged no matter how badly you’d like to look away. Identifying Features is brilliant in its unyielding honesty. You will sink so far into the depths of these families’ grief, digging out will take more time than you’ll realize. It’s nothing short of captivating.
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