Clara Sola – Selected for Cannes Quinzaine des Réalisateurs 2021

Clara, 40, is believed to have a special connection to God. As a “healer”, she sustains a family and a village in need of hope, while she finds solace in her relationship with the natural world. 

After years of being controlled by her mother’s repressive care, Clara’s sexual desires are stirred by her attraction to her niece’s new boyfriend. This newly awakened force takes Clara to unexplored territory, allowing her to cross boundaries, both physical and mystical. Empowered by her self-discovery, Clara gradually frees herself from her role as “saint” and begins to heal herself.

Clara Sola is the debut feature from Nathalie Álvarez Mesén; a Costa Rican-Swedish writer/director. Nathalie is an alumna of Columbia University’s Graduate Film Program, the Berlinale Talents, and the TIFF Filmmaker Lab.

Clara Sola received the CTT and El Taller awards at the 2018 Guadalajara Co-production Meeting. Álvarez Mesén’s short films have screened at Telluride (Asunder), and Venice (Entre Tú y Milagros), where as co-writer she won the Horizons award for Best Short. Her short, Filip, won Best Film Under 15 Minutes at the 2016 Palm Springs Shortfest.

Clara is played by multi-award-winning Costa Rican dancer Wendy Chinchilla in her debut film role. The film is produced by Nima Yousefi (HOBAB) and co-produced by Alan McConnell (Resolve Media), Géraldine Sprimont, Anne-Laure Guégan (Need Productions), Karina Avellan Troz,Marcelo Quesada Mena (Pacífica Grey) Lisa Widén, Beata Mannheimer (Film Capital Stockholm Fund), IvannaKozak, Antoine Liétout, Ivan Zuber (Laïdak Films). Luxbox is handling international sales.

Clara Sola will screen in the Cannes Quinzaine des Réalisateurs/Director’s Fortnight 2021.