Cannes Short Film Corner - Siempre, Hasta Luego
Azul is a mischievous 8-year-old girl. One night, alone in her room, her fun and games take a strange new form. ‘Siempre, Hasta Luegoʼ is an experimental drama that challenges our ideas of what children get up to by themselves.
Interview with Writer/Director Mia Gutierrez Maxwell
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you very much. I made this film as a reflection on some of the taboos in society. When we think of children, we think of smiles, laughter and fun games. With this film, I wanted to challenge the concept of childhood. What do kids do when they are not seen by the adult gaze? What is it that they want? This can lead to the typical answer: candy, chocolate, going to the playground?
But, for me it was about going beyond this. I found that some kids want simpler things, such as jumping on their beds. Others just want to do what they are not allowed to do by their parents… playing under their beds until late hours, or painting the bathroom walls with crayons. These “desires” would be easy to achieve, if only they were approved by the adult in charge.
Siempre, Hasta Luego tries to re-discover the child and invites the audience to access their innocence, their playfulness.
Why should I watch this film?
The film explores the topic of childhood in a very unusual and unique way, giving the audience a different point of view. A perspective that is not normally given while seeing films that have kids as their main focus.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
As a director I predominately create work that tackles personal themes and how my own experiences fit within in the broader societal picture. For this film in particular, I started the script of the film after spending some time babysitting my two younger cousins. I was able to enter their world while playing with them, giving them the freedom to do whatever they wanted. It was this way that I discovered how interesting the child’s mind was.
Although the film started from my own personal experience and opinion on childhood, it does try to relate with all the kids of the world. The story seems to focus on Azul, a young girl from Buenos Aires…. but we intentionally kept the film as timeless and placeless as possible. There is no indication of how old the girl is, where she lives, or what social class she belongs to.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
As mentioned before, the film started from a babysitting session. From this point I started spending more time with my younger cousins, trying to gather as much information as I could. I would invite them home for specific activities such as painting or playing hide and seek, in order to gain their confidence. I then, started asking more specific questions as: what would you do if you could do anything in the world and your mom would not see you? Answers started with: I would cut all my dolls in little pieces.
With these type of questions, I informally interviewed other kids, trying to discover their inner desires and darkness. This research started off as a game, then, I started taking notes, and then it finally evolved into a script. It was not always the intention to make a short film about this but…it naturally fell into place.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback received so far has been very positive but varied. Overall, people have found the film innovative and fresh. The film does not have many views yet, as it is just beginning its festival life. We will see how the audience reacts in the following months!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has not surprised me so far. I am aware that the film is not for a massive audience, and needs some induction into the topic prior to the viewing. I try to always do films that challenge the audience, and make them think and feel actively while watching. This approach makes my films different, and some people might claim that “nothing happens” in the film, or go out of the cinema asking “what was this film even about?”. I think this is good, at least they came out of the cinema asking themselves questions.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I think it is a great opportunity for me as a filmmaker to expose the topics I believe are important. I am a young, new director and I am aware that having material online is crucial to reaching people.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The film has just been at the Short Film Corner at Cannes, which was a great opportunity for me to meet and network with this type of person. My goal for the film is for it to be screened at film festivals internationally. Siempre Hasta Luego is my debut short film and I have two more shorts in the final stages of post production that I am actively looking to engage with film festival directors and distributors to discuss. I love to talk with potential collaborators and would be delighted to start a new collaboration.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like to reach a variety of people in as many different cultures as possible and encourage them to question the ideas proposed in the film.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I want to make people think, and re-think what it is to be a child. Is it all colourful and bright for them? Is there something else beyond those smiling, innocent faces? What is it that they really desire/want/think?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
At the moment, I have just finished my graduation film ‘Vincent’ the story of an elderly blind man who finds himself stuck in a timeless landscape of grief after losing his beloved. The film is a quiet observation of the pain and confusion all human beings experience while loosing someone they love deeply. It intends to explore the smallest details within human behaviour and the singularity attached to the process of grief.
On the other hand, Sebastian Cantillo, the Cinematographer of this project is in China working on Noice notes about Mr. Wang, a short film with the collaboration of “Universidad del Cine” and China’s government in order to promote China’s wide culture.
Interview: June 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Siempre, Hasta Luego
Azul is a mischievous 8-year-old girl. One night, alone in her room, her fun and games take a strange new form. ‘Siempre, Hasta Luegoʼ is an experimental drama that challenges our ideas of what children get up to by themselves.
Length:18min
Director: Mia Gutierrez Maxwell
Producer: Lucia Osorio
Writer: Mia Gutierrez Maxwell
About the director:
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mia relocated to Edinburgh to further develop her practice as an artist, writer and director. She has recently graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a BA in Film & TV.
While in Edinburgh, Mia has directed a series of music videos and short films as well as collaborating with local production companies Enterprise Screen, M2 films and Shakehaus.
As a filmmaker, Mia is interested in human behaviour and social interaction. Her aim is to highlight issues we go through in our day-to-day life experience.”
Key cast: Guadalupe Stivala, Irene Almus
Looking for: buyers, distributors, film festival directors
Social media handles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siemprehastaluego/
Funders: IDEAME, Universidad del Cine,
Made in association with: Universidad del Cine, Edinburgh College of Art, How Exciting films productions.
Where can I see it in the next month? It will be released after festival run in approximately 6 months.