Ema

Dir. Pablo Larrain

107 Minutes

Chile

2019

Starring: Mariana Di Girolamo, Gael Garcia Bernal, Santiago Cabrera

***/*****

Pablo Larrain's long awaited Ema (it has been far too long since his late 2016 double bill of Neruda and Jackie) has a rather hypnotic visual hold, but at times feels a little bit too detached, too careful in its creation, that the events and moments have the appearance of its construction rather than one with any emotional satisfaction. The central narrative concerns a couple-a dancer (Mariana Di Girolamo) and a choreographer (Gael Garcia Bernal)-who are struggling in their relationship after an adoption goes wrong and they must return the boy after a series of ominous incidents (one in which he may or may not have put a cat in a freezer?), leading her to using dance, community, and sex to express her grief as she schemes a way to get the boy back.

The parts are strong and very present: primary positives being a staggering and honest performance by Di Girolamo, beautiful compositions by Sergio Armstrong, a frighteningly good Nicolas Jaar score. Larrain's decision to elliptically tell the story causing disorientation as it moves through time is interesting and aligns with Di Girolamo's grief, but occasionally may do the narrative a disservice by causing a break between viewer and character. There is a strong admiration for what Larrain is trying to do here, but despite its aesthetic beauties the piece ultimately rang a bit too hollow.

May 1st, 2020