A great movie is usually filled with wonderful writing, beautiful cinematography, and incredible performances. But to really rise above and become something special, a film must have a ton of emotion and heart. And that’s where a film like “Tótem” truly shines.

READ MORE: ‘Tótem’ Review: Mexican Director Lila Avilés Stuns With A Soul-Nourishing Microcosm Built On Profound Love In The Face Of Grief [Berlin]

With “Tótem” finally getting released in theaters this week, we’re thrilled to share an exclusive clip from the family drama.

Continue reading ‘Tótem’ Exclusive Clip: Lila Avilés’ Beautiful, Poignant Family Drama Arrives In Theaters This Week at The Playlist.

As we all still catch up on the best films of 2023 or the ones that, at least, needed time for broader distribution, January is already delivering a bevy of solid and worthwhile titles. It’s a busy time of year for film, from the awards discussion in the lead-up to the Oscars to the Sundance Film Festival, but Hollywood doesn’t slow down to accommodate. While some features will likely be forgotten by the month’s end, plenty more are worthy discoveries as we brace ourselves for the colder months.

Continue reading 14 Films To Watch In January: Society Of The Snow,’ ‘Self Reliance,’ ‘Origin’ & More at The Playlist.

As Leo Tolstoy wrote, “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” I would go on to add that the particular ways that your family is unhappy define significant parts of a person’s being, crafting traits and peccadilloes and teaching them how to interact with others. The family dynamics are fully displayed in “Tótem,” director Lila Avilés’ follow-up to her debut, 2018’s “The Chambermaid.” 

READ MORE: 2023 Fall Film Preview: 60+ Most Anticipated Movies To Watch

In a review for The Playlist, Carlos Aguilar describes “Tótem” as feeling rich “in its sublimely compassionate, cinematic observations for which words alone could not suffice.” “Tótem” stars Naíma Sentíes, Monserrat Marañon, Marisol Gasé, Saori Gurza, and Teresita Sánchez.

Continue reading ‘Tótem’ Trailer: In Lila Aviles’ Family Drama, Chaos & Mortality Are Seen Through A Child’s Eyes at The Playlist.

With her feature debut, “The Chambermaid,” Mexican writer-director Lila Avilés materialized a graceful character study of a hardworking mother. Though enriched via the meaningful interjections of its supporting players, the narrative had a singular focus. For her follow-up, “Tótem,” Avilés has now confected an intimate ensemble piece from a family’s acts of tenderness as experienced through the sorrowful gaze of a young girl. A luminous and soul-nourishing microcosm built on profound love in the face of impending grief, the film reveals itself in the charged interactions between its multiple characters.

Continue reading ‘Tótem’ Review: Mexican Director Lila Avilés Stuns With A Soul-Nourishing Microcosm Built On Profound Love In The Face Of Grief [Berlin] at The Playlist.