2013, 85 minutes
Directed by Nicolás Videla & Camila José Donoso
Produced by Rocío Romero
International premiere at CPHDOX 2013
National premiere at FICVALDIVIA 2013
SINOPSIS
Yermén wants to have a sex reassignment surgery but doesn't have the money to do so. She lives in Población La Victoria and her neighbors gossip saying that she's a witch. She works as a tarot card reader and spiritual guide at a call center, where she listens to other people's problems and frustrations every single day.
In her backyard, she has an altar devoted to Saint Sara, to whom she prays for succeeding in a casting call for a TV show that offers plastic surgeries. There, she will meet an enigmatic immigrant who wants to modify her body to look exactly like Naomi Campbell.
Release date: 2013
Running time: 83 minutes
Shot in Full HD and 8mm
Available for screenings in DCP and H.264
Image format: 16:9
Sound format: 5.1
Original language: Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
CAST & CREW
Cast: Paula Dinamarca, Ingrid Mancilla, Camilo Carmona, Josefína Ramírez, Susy Payams, Celinda Améstica, Corina González, Kattya Arancibia
Director and Screenwriter: Nicolás Videla, Camila José Donoso
Producer: Rocío Romero
Executive Production: Catalina Donoso, Rocío Romero
Cinematography: Matías Illánes
Direct Sound: Carlos Collío
Art Direction: Nicolás Oyarce
Production Designer: Macarena Yurjevic
Editing: Nicolás Videla, Daniela Camino
Music: Eduardo Svart, Felipe Moya
Sound Design: Estudios Patagonia
Translation and Subtitles: Utopía Traductions
Poster Design: Martín Bruce
Production House: Cusiqanqui Films, Mimbre
International Distribution: Obra Cine
LABS & FESTIVALS
FICVALDIVIA 2013 (Chile)
Special Jury Award
CPH:DOX 2013 (Denmark)
Göteborg Film Festival 2014 (Sweden)
HABANA FF
Outfest 2014 (US)
DOK Leipzig 2014 (Germany)
PRESS & REVIEWS
“
An experiment in form that, in both structure and content, challenges notions of truth and authenticity, Naomi Campbell fuses fiction and nonfiction elements in telling the story of a Chilean pre-op trans woman who tries to get on a reality TV show in order to pay for her surgery. The film eschews familiar cinematic treatment of trans women, capturing its heroine's struggles and setbacks without being gloomy or depressing. The film gains gravitas through its unforced looks at class and race — the latter through the experiences of an Afro-Chilean stripper whose dreams give the film its title.”
– Ernest Hardy, L.A. WEEKLY
“
Naomi Campbell is a savvy critique of the assumptions—about gender, class, and beauty—that inspire that sort of talk, but it’s also an imaginative embodiment of the trans-ness it celebrates: a documentary with the structure of a fictional character study, and a sleekly shot piece of digital filmmaking punctuated by pixelated, low-grade video footage shot by Yermén herself.”
– FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
“
Naomi Campbell is, first and foremost, a sensitive and touching examination of the singularities of a unique woman with a very personal — and urgent — dream, but also of the many similarities she shares with ordinary women…With a subtly fascinating cinematography and a great use of context and locations, Naomi Campbell is absorbing, profound, and authentic. Quite an uncommon combination.”
– Pablo Suárez, BUENOS AIRES HERALD
“
Fascinating and at moments inhabitant in its isolation.”
– JC Alvarez, EDGE MEDIA NETWORK
“
It’s as if the directors take the viewer’s hand to make them feel sympathy for a character who oozes truth.”
– Victor Blanes Pico, BAMA CINE
“
Instead of ascending towards the typical climax of intensity, the story chooses to slowly fade away, adapting itself to the calm resignation assumed by the protagonist when she understands that she still has a long way to achieve her goal. And then she simply leaves us. She abandons the movie to continue her path with an implacable dignity.”
– Carolina Guidici, MORIR EN VENECIA