Program 17: Retablo

Directed by Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio L.

Subtitled, Narrative Feature, Sunday, Oct. 7 / Germany, Norway, Peru / 2017 / 101 mins / Quechua, Spanish with English subtitles / New York State Premiere

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Program 17: Retablo

Little Theatre 1
October 7, 2018 6:00 pm Buy Tickets

Description

Taking its name from the intricate, handmade altarpieces created by its protagonists, Retablo is a beautiful, heartfelt story of love and redemption.

14-year-old Segundo (Junior Béjar Roca) is apprentice to his artisan father Noé (Amiel Cayo), whose life’s work is making the lovingly crafted story-boxes that feature small, colorful clay representations of its owner’s family and community in religious scenes meant to honor their connection to the saints. Working side by side, Noé passes down his knowledge of the family trade, teaching Segundo and guiding him in the art of retablo. Once their work is finished, they travel from town to town, through remote regions of the Peruvian Andes to deliver their creations to the hands of delighted villagers.

But when Segundo inadvertently stumbles upon a wellkept family secret, the bond between father and son is suddenly – and perhaps irrevocably – shattered. The revelation is at odds with the ideals instilled by the conservative, patriarchal customs of his village, and a community that inflicts sometimes violent retribution against any behavior that falls outside the norm. Struggling with the implications of his discovery, Segundo must find a way to reconcile what he observes with what he’s always been taught is right.

In his feature film debut, writer-director Álvaro DelgadoAparicio has created an emotionally and culturally rich comingof-age story. With the beautifully rugged mountain landscapes of Peru as its backdrop, Retablo takes place at the crossroads between family and heritage, and what happens to those who get caught in the middle.

— Adam Lubitow

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AWARDS & ACCOLADES

JURY AWARD, TEDDY AWARD BEST, FIRST FEATURE FILM – Berlin Int’l Film Festival
JURY AWARD, BEST FIRST FEATURE – Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
JURY AWARD, SPECIAL MENTION, GENERATION 14PLUS – Berlin Int’l Film Festival
JURY AWARD, BEST PERUVIAN FILM – Lima Latin American Film Festival
JURY AWARD, BEST FIRST FEATURE – Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ
OFFICIAL SELECTION – Seattle Int’l Film Festival