'Retablo', the Peruvian movie directed by Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio, recently received two awards at the Berlin International Film Festival, which took place between February 15 and 25. The first award was a Special Mention from the Youth Jury in the Generation 14Plus awards ceremony, a section of the festival that is dedicated to young audiences, and the second prize was for Best Newcomer at the Teddy Awards.
This feature film starring Junior Béjar, Amiel Cayo and Magaly Solier, spoken entirely in Quechua, focuses on the complex relationships between a retablo (decorative altarpiece) craftsman and his son, a boy in search of certainties in a traditional Cordillera community in the Andes.
"In the film, which deals with an important topic in a delicate way, we were impressed by the stylistic devices such as the changing camera perspectives and moments of surprise in both the imagery and the story. We were really moved by the sensitivity of the main character on his path to adulthood in a world marked by violence," explained the jury that presented 'Retablo' with the Special Mention.
As for the Best Newcomer awards, it was published on the Teddy Awards fanpage that the movie "moved the entire jury with its expertly elaborated cinematography, which is artistic in its delicious use of color, with the way it is directed and, in particular, the nuanced presentation of the father-son relationship."
'Retablo' is a co-production from Peru, Germany and Norway and was previewed last year at the 21st Lima Film Festival where it won the award for Best Peruvian Film, presented by the Ministry of Culture.
Synopsis
RETABLO tells the story of Segundo Paucar, a 14-year-old boy from Ayacucho who wants to become a retablo maker and is being trained by his father, a recognized master craftsman, so that he can continue the family legacy. On his way to a local festival, Segundo accidentally sees his father in an act that makes his world fall apart. In a conservative environment, Segundo tries to silently deal with everything that happens to him, trying to reconstruct his own family retablo and continue his life.
About the Berlinale
The Berlin International Film Festival, also known as the Berlinale, is one of the most prestigious film festivals, in category A, as certified by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).
It takes place every February in Berlin and began in 1951, when Alfred Hitchcock opened the first ever festival by presenting his film Rebecca.
The festival aims to put the best productions from international cinema in the spotlight. The figurine chosen to be awarded to the winners is a bear made of silver or gold, depending on the category being awarded. The jury is made up of members of the film industry (directors, actors, etc.) and international critics.