This is Cristina

(Ella es Cristina)

Gonzalo Maza / Chile / 2018 / 82 min

  • Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival

  • Jeonju International Film Festival

  • Miami Film Festival

    JORDAN RESSLER FIRST FEATURE AWARD

  • Raindance Film Festival

  • Göteborg Film Festival

  • Huelva Film Festival

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Spanish with English subtitles

With Mariana Derderian, Paloma Salas, Roberto Farías, Nestor Cantillana, Alejandro Goic, Claudia Celedón, Daniela Castillo.

Frances Ha is called Cristina in this Chilean generational comedy produced by Salma Hayek and directed by Gonzalo Maza, screenwriter of A Fantastic Woman and Gloria. Maza is renowned as one of the great screenwriters of Latin American cinema.

Cristina and Susana have been best friends since high school. But now, when they are over 30 years old, they are getting a wake-up call. Cristina has just divorced and is not prepared for her new bachelorhood; Susana returns to live again in her mother’s house. Because of a fight, they drift apart and now both of them, separated, will have to deal with a long list of selfish, self-centered, and egotistical men around them.

With beautiful black and white cinematography inspired by the films of John Cassavetes and Jim Jarmusch, which Maza has cited as references, This is Cristina makes clear that Maza is as talented a director as he is a screenwriter.

About the Director
Gonzalo Maza is an award-winner Chilean screenwriter, director, and producer. He wrote with director Sebastián Lelio four of his films: Navidad (2009, premiered in Cannes Director’s Fortnight); El Año del Tigre (2011, Official Competition at the Locarno Film Festival); Gloria (2013) and Una Mujer Fantástica (A Fantastic Woman, 2017), both in Official Competition at the Berlin Film Festival. Una Mujer Fantástica was awarded the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2018. His work in this film got a Silver Bear for Best Screenplay. Gloria also received a Platino Award (Ibero-American Academy Awards) for Best Screenplay.

This Is Cristina (Ella es Cristina), is his first feature as director, and he has been named as one of Variety’s 10 Latinxs To Watch for 2020.

Press

“I was drawn towards Ella es Cristina for its unique portrait of a generation of urban young Chilean women struggling for recognition and respect but in a fresh and funny way.” – Salma Hayek, Variety

“With a series of seemingly random scenes shot in a striking monochrome, this clever Chilean comedy-drama traces the rollercoaster trajectory of a friendship between two women who seem unwilling to grow up and take responsibility for their lives. For his directing debut, gifted writer-producer Gonzalo Meza (A Fantastic Woman) cleverly weaves together a coming-of-age story that hinges on this connection. It feels crisp and light, but carries a strong kick.” – Rich Cline, Shadows on the Walls

“Funny, relatable, light-hearted and, in parts, very moving...a tender and touching friendship seen through Maza’s mocking-but-affectionate view of urban millennials. With most of the male characters being comically self-serving, there is a feeling that in this instance, female friendships are more honest, providing a safer space to be their authentic selves.” – Amy Hancock, Sounds and Colours

“Ella es Cristina is a moving study of relationships of all kinds, in particular the bond between women that can survive against all odds, even as Cristina faces motherhood. It is no coincidence that the working title was Amigas Amigas.” – Corina J. Poore, LatinoLife

Notes on Film

“I filmed it in black and white firstly because the format lends a nostalgic tone, reminiscent of a time that has passed, which is the point of view of the film: Someone who remembers a time in her life she’d rather forget. Secondly, it reminds me of many black and white films that I admire, that have always been honest, sincere, and direct. I want to be part of this family of films, from Tres Tristes Tigres by Raul Ruiz to Permanent Vacation by Jim Jarmusch or Paper Moon by Peter Bogdanovich, John Cassavetes, Andrew Bujalski, Wim Wenders and 25 Watts directors Pablo Stoll and Juan Pablo Rebella are among my many other references.”

– Gonzalo Maza, Director