Tengo Sueños Eléctricos

TENGO SUEÑOS ELECTRICOS is an impressive first feature film by director Valentina Maurel. A true gem discovered at the 75th edition of the Locarno film Festival. Set in Costa Rica, the movie is an audacious coming-of-age. The story of Eva, a teenage girl that after her parent’s divorce lives with her mother, her younger sister and their cat, but all she dreams of is to live with her dad. All this effort, only to realize that her dysfunctional father is so lost and trying to find his way that he could not take care of a child. Maurel focuses on their pure emotions, portraying the characters with complexity and ambiguity, showing a father that balances between violence and tenderness and a young girl that is strong and vulnerable at the same time when it comes to adulthood. The newcomer Daniela Marín Navarro and Reinaldo Amien Gutiérrez deliver outstanding performances. The film received 3 awards at the Locarno Film Festival: Best Director, Best Actress for Daniela Marín Navarro and Best Actor for Reinaldo Amien Gutiérrez and I hope that the awards encourage other festivals and distributors in Europe to discover this movie.