“The message”: the Argentine film that conquered the Berlin Festival arrives at theaters

After winning at different international festivals, including the silver bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, “The Message”, the new Iván Fund film arrives at the Lugones room. Starring Marcelo Subiotto, Mara Bestelli, Anika Bootz and Bethany Cappato, focuses on an eight -year -old girl who has a gift: You can communicate with animals. Fund builds a black and white poetic story as realistic as supernatural.

Like all the women of the family, Anika has the ability to speak and listen to both living and dead pets. This sixth sense becomes his work and the main engine of his family composed of his grandmother, Myriam, and her boyfriend, Roger. They travel with a Motorhome without any destination in different parts of the country to channel messages and attract new customers. Anika is the one who transmits them, Myriam, interprets them and Roger negotiates and charges the fees. Although at first glance it seems a story of opportunism, in reality, it is one of love.

“The message” is not a certainty movie. Here you have to believe. Anika trusts her instinct as much as Myriam and Roger do. While her mother is admitted to a psychiatric hospital -a consequence of the family gift -she finds containment in her four -wheeled home. Maybe they are called by their names and they don’t say “I love you”, but through subtleties the love they have is reflected. Who said love only exists if it is verbalized? I repeat, here you have to believe.

“I understand the cinema from the image more than from the word. So, it was interesting that communication is not resolved from there. When the word appears it is above all part of an armed speech, it is an interaction that has to do with the commercial More than expressing something that is already being felt, ”explains the director in dialogue with scope. Fund justifies his decision with a phrase by director and actor John Cassavetes: “When people begin to say ‘I love you’ it is because something is wrong.”

“The message”, a black and white portrait

This fantasy story recovers more strength when it takes place in a black and white universe. To believe it is also necessary to distance yourself from what we already know. “The film has a quite contemplative cadence. Then the resource also invites you to be linked to the image in a more clear way,” explains the director, who, together with Gustavo Schiaffino, director of photography, always had the desire to film in black and white. However, Until they began to roll, nothing was defined: “I like to work on a soil of great uncertainty. Then even the idea of ​​black and white until the first days was a possibility. But when we started seeing those images, there was no doubt that it was the shape of the movie. ”

During the filming process this resource was decided but also how the characters were going to be. “Ivan stayed editing things that were filmed until I don’t know what hours at night we got together And we saw those images that begin to give you clues, you say ‘it would have to be more here’ “explains actor Marcelo Subiotto.

A film without state support that won at the Berlin Festival

“We are going through hard times in Argentina, where cinema is being attacked and dismantled culture. This award will help us to continue fighting, because we are many and we are united, ”said the director upon receiving the silver bear in the 75th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival. It was the only Argentine film that was part of the official competition and ended up taking the third most important prize. It was not subsidized by the National Institute of Audiovisual Cinema and Arts (INCAA), but is an Argentine co -production with Spain and Uruguay.

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“The message” won the silver bear at the Berlin International Film Festival last February.

“I hope it also serves as a testimony that It will continue to make cinema, which will continue to tour and be valued and celebrated throughout the world ”, Fund reflects regarding recognition. “Mark the power of work using an art function that filmmakers have in Argentina,” adds Subiotto.

Not only captivated Berlinale, but also recognized at various international festivals, From Uruguay to China. His next stop is the New Horizons Festival of Poland. Like its protagonists, “the message” does not know what your destination is on this trip. However, it is constantly maintained in motion, collecting applause and awards. Now he arrived in his country: he premiered in the Lugones room and from July 13 he will screened in the Malba.

Technical file

“The message” (Argentina 2025). Address: Iván Fund. Script: Iván Fund and Martín Felipe Castagnet. Executive production: Laura Mara plank. Cast: Marcelo Subiotto, Mara Bestelli, Anika Bootz and Bethany Cappato. Duration: 91 minutes.