BLUE EYELIDS (PARPADOS AZULES)

(Mexico, 2007, d. Ernesto Contreras)

A small film about loneliness with two of Mexico's leading actors, Cecilia Suarez and Enrique Arreloa. It is a first feature from Ernesto Contreras and was written by his brother, Carlos, who took the idea from watching a television advertisement for a competition which had a trip for two as its prize and wondering what would happen to people who went on such a trip.

Marina is a loner who works in a uniform-making factory. She wins the annual prize of a trip for two to a Mexican beach resort but has no friends to ask to go with her. Her married sister wants her to hand over the trip to her (quite a harrowing scene) so that she and her wayward husband can mend the marriage.

In the meantime we meet a man, also a loner, who works in an insurance company, who is intending to buy an apartment. The two meet as the man remembers her from school days. She does not. When they go out, she impulsively invites him to go with her for the holiday.

Matters do not work out as we might have thought. They are attracted, perhaps a mutual dependence. However, they also cause pain to each other before a hopeful but uncertain ending.

Winner of the SIGNIS Award at Alba, 2008.