Ariel Escalante Meza’s supernatural drama Domingo And The Mist has been chosen as Costa Rica’s international feature Oscar contender.
The announcement comes as the film receives its North American premiere this week at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Films Boutique is handling worldwide sales.
The film is the story of a widowed loner living in a remote area of tropical rainforest in Costa Rica who is threatened with the loss of his property. Ruthless developers are planning a new highway, a scheme he stubbornly resists. The land has a strong spiritual meaning for him and he won’t give it up without a fight.
Screen International’s review described the film as “a mournful, achingly atmospheric tale [about] a rugged individual holding out against the dubious forces of progress.”
Domingo And The Mist is Meza’s second feature, following on from 2016’s The Sound Of Things. It premiered at Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard in May. The film has also screened at festivals including Munich, Melbourne and Lima before arriving at TIFF.
It is produced by Nicolás Wong Diaz through Incendio Cine. The cast is led by Carlos Ureña, Sylvia Sossa, Esteban Brenes Serrano and Aris Vindas.
Other Films Boutique titles screening at TIFF this year include Mani Haghighi’s Subtraction in the Platform section, Albert Serra’s Pacification, Maryam Touzani’s The Blue Caftan and Joao Pedro Rodrigues’ Will-o’-The-Wisp.
Domingo And The Mist is the 11th film to be submitted by Costa Rica to compete In the best international feature film category at the Academy Awards.
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