Grand Jury Prize (World Cinema, Dramatic)
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also known as La nana
The Maid2009
After twenty-three years working as a devoted maid in an upper class Chilean household, embittered and ailing Raquel can no longer care for the family alone. Trapped by guilt, matriarch Pilar refuses to let Raquel go, even though it is clear their longtime maid is slowly unraveling. Instead, Pilar hires more help, throwing Raquel into a jealous frenzy. The seemingly happy home soon becomes the stage for Raquel's dirty tricks as she attempts to drive away anyone who threatens to take her place with darkly comedic, and in the end, endearing results.
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1 member likes this review
The emotional tension in this film is masterfully navigated by writer/director, Sebastian Silva, and pushes this intimate portrait of a Chilean family and their beloved maid onto the razor's edge between thriller and drama. For a story that has a small scope (we barely ever leave the family home), it has a wide reach in pealing back the layers of contradictions inherent in Latin American master/servant relationships. It reminded me of the complexity and depth of the Iranian film A Separation by Asghar Farhadi.
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Starring
- Gloria Canales - Mamá de Lucy
- Claudia Celedón - Pilar
- Luis Dubó - Eric
- Andrea García-Huidobro - Camila
- Alejandro Goic - Mundo
- Delfina Guzmán - Abuela
- Juan Pablo Larenas - Rodrigo
- Mariana Loyola - Lucy
- Luis Muñoz - Raúl
- Andreína Olivarí - Javiera
- Darok Orellana - Tomás
- Anita Reeves - Sonia
- Sebastián La Rivera - Gabriel
- Catalina Saavedra - Raquel
- Agustín Silva - Lucas
- Mercedes Villanueva - Mercedes
- Luis Wigdorsky - Papá de Lucy
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Member Reviews (6)
top reviewer
The emotional tension in this film is masterfully navigated by writer/director, Sebastian Silva, and pushes this intimate portrait of a Chilean family and their beloved maid onto the razor's edge between thriller and drama. For a story that has a small scope (we barely ever leave the family home), it has a wide reach in pealing back the layers of contradictions inherent in Latin American master/servant relationships. It reminded me of the complexity and depth of the Iranian film A Separation by Asghar Farhadi.
1 member likes this review
A very compelling character study. The Maid's external world doesn't change much from beginning to end but her internal world has radically altered by the film's end. The film starts out a potentially black comedy and ends on a high uplifting note. Great film!
1 member likes this review
top reviewer
Catalina Saavedra makes passive-aggressive adorable.
top reviewer
The Maid lets us see the raw pain, deep seeded fears, life lost, after we get to the bottom of Raquel's uneasiness. The children she cares for give her all the intimate life she has, until she finds a friend in Lucy. In addition to giving subtle commentary on socio-economics, politics, class and status symbols, this film is a fully robust and generous character portrayal and story of how one's lot, labor and power are negotiated and compromised over their personal dreams in life.
I loved the dark humor - the unpredictability - and even the cruelty.
pure genius.