![]() It’s only upon reading more about the Latin American country that you discover that the film is based on a real person: Íngrid Olderöck, a secret police agent who was responsible for many human rights violations during Augusto Pinochet’s infamous rule.Ĭhile has become one of the most distinguished exporters of Latin American animation over the last few years, with much of the recognition geared towards (but not limited to) three major films. As is the case with most silent animation, the film’s strong visual narrative spells out the main takeaways for viewers you don’t need to know anything about Chile’s history to understand that this takes place during an oppressive regime - perhaps someplace in South America, going by a Spanish newspaper clipping that appears later. Very quickly did I realize it was going to have something to do with the country’s military dictatorship. When I rented Bestia on Vimeo to catch up on the 94th Academy Award nominees in January, I went into the film knowing nothing, except that it was a Chilean production. These include a quotidian breakfast, an office job at what appears to be some kind of law enforcement agency, trips to an underground bunker where she forces the dog onto prisoners, evening cunnilingus between the two, and - finally - some distressing nightmare sequences to end the day. Whatever it is, it’s letting us know that we’re up for something far more sinister than the cutesy character designs of Covarrubias’ stop-motion figurines would suggest.įrom there, the next 14 minutes of Bestia consist of the porcelain lady and her canine going about their daily routines. ![]() Or maybe it’s the ominous score, which begins as the film’s title appears over her head, against the pale blue sky. Maybe it’s the doll’s blank, expressionless face. ![]() When paused, director Hugo Covarrubias’ dwarfish compositions form a pretty picture, but there’s something very unsettling about his objects in motion. Our porcelain protagonist and her fluffy German Shepherd stand atop a green hill, facing each other from opposite sides of the frame, when she throws a twig for the dog to retrieve. ![]() The story of 2021’s Annecy-winning short film Bestia begins with a game of fetch. Content warning: This piece includes descriptions of torture and sexual assault. ![]()
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