La Nana (The Maid)
Niall's Picks
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1h 36m
"Sebastián Silva's film is an unexpected combination: a gripping psychological thriller, and also a poignant human drama." The Guardian
Sundance Film Festival
New York Film Festival
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Chilean director Sebastián Silva (NASTY BABY, MAGIC MAGIC) burst onto the international film scene in 2009 with this, his second film, a consistently surprising and gripping character study. Catalina Saavedra plays Raquel, a housekeeper who has worked with an upper-class Chilean family for many years and has come to view them as a surrogate family. Protective of her role within the household, she's wary of new housekeepers brought in to assist her, welcoming them with more than a little animosity. Silva brilliantly maintains a tonal balancing act throughout the film, which keeps the audience on its toes, while playing with our expectations. Anchored by a truly terrific performance by Saavedra in the lead role, the film feels as fresh as it did when it premiered at Sundance, winning the festival's Grand Jury Prize for best dramatic film in its World Cinema section.
Chile - 2009 - 1h 35m
Directed By: Sebastián Silva
Written By: Sebastián Silva, Pedro Peirano
Starring: Catalina Saavedra, Mariana Loyola, Claudia Celedón