HILDA

Mexico, 2014, 89 minutes, Colour.
Veronica Langer, Adriana Paz.
Directed by Andres Clariond.

Hilda is a brief film about a maid who is drawn into a wealthy household with the señora of the household becoming codependent on her.

The film shows the life of the wealthy – but also some satire when the señora remembers her seemingly socialist past, goes to a school to address the students, finds that they react against her, having footage of her haughty behaviour towards poorer people – and they eventually lay siege to her house.

Hilda His the wife of the gardener who His persuaded to allow his wife to come to work on the house, where she becomes essential to the life of the señora who pampers her, trains her, clothes her, gets her to participate in all her activities, prevents are going home on weekends to see her family.

There is a climax with the student attack on the house and the young gardener coming to a retrieve his wife.

1. A Mexican drama with satirical elements? Observations on Mexican society, class distinctions, the wealthy, the servant class?

2. The Mexican setting, city, affluent home, gardens and grounds, the contrast with the poorer classes and their settings? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on the young woman, her marriage to the gardener, her family and children, the request for her to be a servant, her arriving at the household, being trained, the transformation of life?

4. The señora, her character, age, experience, wealth? Relationship with her husband? His responding to her whims? The range of servants, the details of work and household? Servants going in and out, the interviews, hiring the two Indian women to serve in the house? Her interest in the names of her servants? Never having had a Hilda? The discussions with the gardener, persuading him to send his wife?

5. The husband, his business interests, presents, absences, business deals? His reactions to his wife? The preparation of the social, the important guests, his wife’s behaviour?

6. The señora, a growing dependence on Hilda, grooming her, her clothes, her manners, helping in the kitchen, becoming companion, the señora forcing her to stay weekends, Hilda wanting to get to her family? Becoming virtually imprisoned?

7. The effect on the señora, co-dependence, manipulating Hilda and everyone else?

8. The señora, the past studies, socialist leanings, going to the school, being with the students, her talk, their reactions, the footage of her haughty behaviour? Her being humiliated? The students and their attack on her house, the intrusion, the police and guards?

9. The husband, his coming to the house, trying to get in, the police, the upset, recovering his wife?

10. And the señora interviewing a new maid with a name she had not had before?

11. The characterisations, situations – and the implied critique of Mexican society?