Tótem

Tótem is a brilliant piece by Lila Avilés that tackles the realisation of mortality in childhood. It follows seven-year-old Sol as she explores her grandfather’s house, awaiting the surprise birthday party being set up for her ill father, Tona. With implications of Tona’s impending death, the party will serve as his last big celebration. Meanwhile, different members of the family busy themselves with activities in preparation for the event whilst facing difficult questions regarding Tona’s health: how to best help their brother out and the financial burden his illness imposes. The feature is full to the brim with diverse personalities and dynamics that represent the different types of people within a big family.

Set in a single location, Avilés captures well the concept of a child navigating through a bustling family home. This set-up allows the audience to slowly get to know each member of the household, as well as see through the young protagonist how the idiosyncrasies of adults may look to a child as they deal with personal demons and the hypocrisy of their interactions with each other. There’s a suffocating quality to the setting that insists all the characters confront their problems. But there’s also something very big and open about the way Sol explores the little nooks and crevices of the house, seeing these spaces as rife with adventure through a child’s eyes.

While all the actors do a wonderful job at portraying their given roles, there’s something very special about Naíma Sentíes performance as Sol. Her big eyes and inquisitive expressions draw the viewer in, so much so that despite very few words spoken, it’s easy to read the gears turning in her head as she starts to understand the world around her. All that coupled with her interactions with animals and the symbolic images of the creatures present a very cathartic analysis of life and death. Her charisma keeps the film upbeat even in its quieter moments.

Despite this, the writing is conscious enough to not let Sol overshadow the other characters. In general, the highlight of Tótem is the way it tackles different reactions to human grief, from falling into vices such as alcoholism to keeping one’s self busy, silent acceptance to wearing a mask of happiness for the sake of others. This echoes well Avilés’s sentiment of presenting characters that audiences can find themselves in: “There’s a lot of us in all the characters – not only one…We all have our different faces, and we’re all mixed.”

Tótem is less about the plot and more about introspection, coming-of-age and the recognition of life as temporary; it focuses more on the characters rather than the events that unfold around them, not least its precocious and reserved protagonist. Avilés succeeds in her mission to explore the special days that spark change in a person. She does so with class, humility and a tender understanding of children and their growth through facing spontaneous challenges in life.

Mae Trumata

Tótem is released in select cinemas on 1^st December 2023.

Watch a clip from Tótem here: