Connect with us

Entertainment

Review: 'Tótem,' a haunting drama about a family at a turning point, will stay with you forever

Published

on

Review: 'Tótem,' a haunting drama about a family at a turning point, will stay with you forever

One of the first and last things you see in “Tótem,” Lila Avilés’ lovely and astonishing second feature, is a shot of a young girl’s face. It’s a beautiful face, with gentle eyes, a radiant if infrequent smile and a quiet wisdom well beyond its years. When you meet the 7-year-old Sol (Naíma Sentíes), she’s giggling with her mother, Lucia (Iazua Larios), in a public restroom, trying on a rainbow-hued clown wig that she’ll wear at a party later that evening. When you see her for the final time, the delight has faded from her expression, and all that remains is a kind of wistful desolation, a desire to cling fast to a childhood that she knows is about to change forever.

In between these two shots, a long day and an entire world come vibrantly into focus. For much of the movie, which runs a compact but overflowing 95 minutes, we are in a large, crowded house somewhere in Mexico City, where preparations for the party are underway. The guest of honor is Sol’s terminally ill father, Tona (Mateo García Elizondo), observing what will likely be his final birthday. He’s been too sick to see his daughter recently, and even after she arrives at the house, dropped off by her mother, she’s kept away from him for as long as possible. And so, left to her own devices, Sol wanders from room to bustling room, a shy, watchful presence set adrift in a churning sea of grown-ups.

The roving handheld camera, wielded by the cinematographer Diego Tonorio, follows after her, bearing witness to all manner of family fractiousness along the way. Avilés’ technique has grown looser, more mobile and rough-hewn than in her 2018 debut feature, “The Chambermaid,” a meticulously composed portrait of a worker in a luxury hotel. But the achievement of “Tótem,” Mexico’s official (but sadly unnominated) submission in this year’s Oscar race for international feature, is not all that different from that of its predecessor: to capture the spirit of a place.

As if to underscore that notion, the movie soon ushers in a visiting medium who might help reverse Tona’s terrible decline. Avilés, directing the movie from her own screenplay, finds an effortless human comedy in this woman’s noisy arrival, following her as she weaponizes water buckets and even a piece of bread in her quest to cleanse the house of its dark, demonic influences. There’s humor, too, in the curmudgeonly gripes of Sol’s grandfather (“I’m not in the mood for your satanic bulls—,” he growls into his electronic larynx) and also in the stress of Sol’s aunt Nuri (Montserrat Marañon) as she looks after her own young daughter, nurses several drinks and rushes to bake a birthday cake for the party.

Mateo Garcia Elizondo and Naíma Sentíes in the movie “Tótem.”

Advertisement

(Kino Lorber)

When that cake finally emerges hours later, after a smoky kitchen disaster, we see that it’s been decorated with an imprint of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” — a passing but revealing detail (Tona is a painter) in a movie that refuses to linger. Avilés keeps her camera insistently on the prowl, as if she were eager to keep tabs on everyone in the house (the number keeps growing) at every moment. Her powers of observation miss nothing: roughhousing children, bickering adults, pets scampering underfoot. Amid the tumult, there are brief, blissfully peaceful shots of ants skittering up and down a wall, and also of a snail slithering across Sol’s open palm. Beneath this one roof, all creation seems to converge.

The eye with which Avilés surveys this unwieldy human and animal circus is at once strikingly unsentimental and sweepingly egalitarian. Those bugs and slugs will soon expire, and so will the fast-fading Tona. Portraits of terminal illness are nothing new in the movies, but if this one registers with particular force, it’s precisely because Avilés’ filmmaking, terse and relentless, refuses to slow down for Tona. As he wastes away in his bed, making his occasional long, agonizing trips to the bathroom with the help of his attentive nurse, Cruz (Teresita Sánchez), we can already sense life moving on without him.

The moment when Sol is finally permitted to see her father is fleeting, piercing and suffused with the most helpless kind of love. There’s clearly more to the story here; we long to see Sol’s happier days with him, and perhaps to learn more about her parents’ relationship, which appears to have ended some time before. There’s also more to learn about the tensions bubbling up between Nuri and another aunt, the friends who toast Tona at his party and the financial burdens that at one point turn the gathering into a fundraiser. It takes a confident storyteller to avoid the trap of overexplanation, to give us only a partial glimpse of her characters’ lives, and these narrative elisions have the effect of deepening rather than undercutting the story’s realism.

Advertisement

Which is not to say that “Tótem,” its title rich with spiritual portent, is entirely tethered to the real. This is a movie about a celebration astride the abyss, and, as it continues, it takes on the eerie power of a séance. By a certain point we seem to have wandered, alongside Sol, into a strange netherworld between life and death. It’s as if we have become the ghost in the machine, the specter looming behind the camera, and we want, against all reason, to comfort her, to let her know that she is neither unseen nor alone. The sensation soon passes, as many sensations do. But you can’t quite shake it off, or rid yourself of this movie’s cumulatively shattering power.

‘Tótem’

Not rated

In Spanish with English subtitles

Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

Advertisement

Playing: Starts Friday at Laemmle Glendale and Laemmle Monica Film Center, West Los Angeles

Advertisement

Movie Reviews

Mark Jenkin’s ‘ROSE OF NEVADA’ – Movie Review – PopHorror

Published

on

Mark Jenkin’s ‘ROSE OF NEVADA’ – Movie Review – PopHorror

Rose of Nevada is a genuinely poetic movie that pushes the boundaries of the Groundhog Day-style time-travel narrative while carving out an identity completely its own. Rather than relying on the familiar mechanics that audiences have come to expect from the genre, the film approaches the concept through a more reflective and emotional lens. The result is a movie that feels thoughtful, ambitious, and surprisingly moving.

It makes a huge on-screen presence felt through its cast, particularly George MacKay and Callum Turner, who both deliver performances that elevate the material beyond a simple science-fiction premise. Combined with breathtaking visuals and a strong directorial vision, Rose of Nevada becomes something far more memorable than many of its genre contemporaries.

George MacKay continues to prove why he is one of the most compelling actors working today. Following his acclaimed work in 1917, he once again demonstrates an ability to carry a film through sheer presence and emotional authenticity.

Every scene feels grounded because of his performance, even when the story ventures into more abstract territory. Alongside him, Callum Turner delivers what could easily be viewed as a breakout performance. The chemistry between the two leads helps anchor the film, allowing audiences to connect with the characters even as the narrative challenges conventional storytelling expectations.

Advertisement

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its visual presentation. The cinematography is nothing short of earth-shattering. Nearly every frame looks like a carefully crafted painting, capturing both the beauty and mystery of the world these characters inhabit. There is a dreamlike quality to the imagery that perfectly complements the film’s themes of time, memory, and destiny.

The camera lingers on landscapes just long enough to allow viewers to soak in their beauty without ever slowing the pace. It’s the kind of cinematography that demands to be appreciated on the largest screen possible.
Director Mark Jenkin continues to establish himself as one of the most distinctive voices in modern British cinema. Following the atmospheric and haunting Enys Men, Jenkin once again crafts a story that feels deeply connected to folklore and place.

The British backdrop becomes a character in itself, with rugged coastlines, open landscapes, and isolated locations contributing to the film’s unique atmosphere. His direction never feels showy or excessive; instead, he trusts the audience to absorb the experience and interpret its deeper meanings.

What makes Rose of Nevada especially fascinating is how it recalls classic time-travel films without simply copying them. There are moments that evoke the spirit of The Final Countdown, particularly in the sense of wonder and uncertainty surrounding the temporal elements.

Advertisement

Yet the film remains firmly rooted in its own identity, focusing more on emotion and introspection than spectacle. It invites viewers to engage with its ideas rather than simply consume them.

This is also one of those rare films that benefits from reflection after the credits roll. It is not a movie designed to provide easy answers. Instead, it lingers in the mind, encouraging discussion and interpretation. The more time you spend thinking about it, the more rewarding it becomes. Much like a fine wine, Rose of Nevada continues to improve with age, revealing new layers and details upon reflection.

Overall, Rose of Nevada is a beautiful, ambitious, and visually stunning piece of filmmaking that deserves to be experienced on the big screen. Powered by exceptional performances, remarkable cinematography, and confident direction, it stands as one of the more unique takes on time travel in recent memory.

Overall Grade: 4/5 Stars

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Kylie Jenner hit with third lawsuit as former chef claims Palm Springs party led to miscarriage

Published

on

Kylie Jenner hit with third lawsuit as former chef claims Palm Springs party led to miscarriage

Less than two months after being sued by two former housekeepers, Kylie Jenner has been hit with a third workplace lawsuit. The beauty mogul’s former private chef alleges a grueling workload led to her miscarriage.

Filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the complaint alleges the woman routinely worked 11- to 12-hour shifts, five days a week, and was assigned physically demanding tasks despite alerting supervisors to her high-risk pregnancy.

A representative for Jenner did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

According to the filing, reviewed by The Times, the woman was told she was selected to work as Jenner’s private chef around Thanksgiving 2024. In early December 2024, the woman claims she informed her supervisors, also named as defendants, that she was three months pregnant and “required reasonable accommodations to protect her health and pregnancy.”

On New Year’s Eve in 2024, supervisors who had allegedly been hostile with the former chef directed her to “lift and transport heavy food items across the street and uphill without assistance,” the documents say.

Advertisement

As a result of the physical exertion, the former chef claims that she “became dizzy, began choking and gasping for air, and required assistance from security personnel, who intervened by providing water and aid.”

Around Feb. 1, 2025, the then-chef, five months’ pregnant at the time, was assigned to work Jenner’s child’s birthday event in Palm Springs, where she wasn’t provided “adequate support” despite the scale and demands of the party, according to the lawsuit. The former chef claims that when she asked for help and expressed concern over the workload, she was ignored by supervisors.

“Due to exhaustion and overwhelming physical strain, [she] broke down emotionally in the bathroom during the event,” reads the suit. “That evening, [she] experienced extreme physical exhaustion and heaviness throughout her body as a result of the prolonged and intense workload.”

The next morning, while the former chef was still in Palm Springs, the filing states that she awoke experiencing severe hemorrhaging and drove herself to the emergency room. “At the hospital, [she] was informed that there was no detectable heartbeat and that she had lost her unborn child.”

According to the former chef, she informed her supervisors of the miscarriage and medical emergency and, in the following days, was “falsely accused of leaving the kitchen and refrigerator in disarray following the Palm Springs event,” the lawsuit states.

Advertisement

The court documents claim that the former chef suffered severe hemorrhaging again on Feb. 8 and collapsed in her bathroom. The filing states that after the miscarriage she suffered severe depression and emotional distress, and claims that a supervisor reprimanded her, saying, “Stop it, just stop it. You are upsetting Kylie. You are making her depressed.”

“Celebrity status does not exempt anyone from California’s employment laws. We look forward to presenting the evidence in court and allowing the facts to speak for themselves,” attorney Della Shaker told The Times.

The former chef is seeking an unspecified amount of damages and claims that in addition to suffering accommodation failures, pregnancy discrimination and harassment, she was misclassified as an independent contractor, did not get paid on time or for the appropriate hours she worked, and was wrongfully terminated.

After being let go, the former chef claims that she sent a formal written complaint to co-defendant Tri Star detailing the alleged discrimination, harassment and wage theft. The lawsuit states that on May 22, 2025, the management team sent her an email offering a settlement and release agreement (essentially offering her money to sign away her right to sue).

The legal filing follows two lawsuits brought by former housekeepers of the embattled reality star. Less than two weeks after one woman on Jenner’s cleaning staff sued her, claiming her co-workers harassed and discriminated against her, another housekeeper came forward with allegations claiming the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star didn’t intervene while she suffered abuse from fellow staff, despite the housekeeper slipping the reality star a letter pleading for help.

Advertisement

Shaker also represents Angelica Hernandez Vasquez, who filed the suit against Jenner on April 17, and Juana Delgado Soto, who filed her lawsuit on April 29.

Continue Reading

Movie Reviews

‘Supergirl’ review: DC Studios serves up a second less-than-super movie

Published

on

‘Supergirl’ review: DC Studios serves up a second less-than-super movie

James Gunn isn’t exactly crushing it.

Named co-chairman and chief executive officer of the newly formed DC Studios in 2022, the “Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker wrote and directed the division of Warner Bros. Discovery’s largely disappointing “Superman,” released last year.

This week, DC Studios’ second big-screen affair, “Supergirl,” lands in theaters with similarly underwhelming results.

‘Superman’ review: James Gunn gets DCU off to rocky, overstuffed start

Starring Milly Alcock as the movie’s namesake Kryptonian heroine — who also goes by Kara Zor-El and is the cousin of David Corenswet’s Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El — “Supergirl” isn’t distractingly zany the way its 2025 sister film was. Instead, it’s tonally boring, a chore of a movie chock full of thinly drawn characters and increasingly bombastic and violent.

Advertisement

To be clear, Gunn isn’t at the helm for “Supergirl.” Instead, it’s the typically dependable Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya,” “Cruella”), working from a script by Ana Nogueira, making her less-than-impressive feature-writing debut.

This planet-hopping adventure in the new DC Universe isn’t a complete space wreck, however, thanks largely to the spunky performance by Aussie Alcock, best known for portraying the younger Rhaenyra Targaryen in the early episodes of HBO’s “House of the Dragon.”

When we catch up with Kara, she’s basically as we left her late in “Superman”: a super-sized mess. She’s out with her beloved, rambunctious dog, Krypto — the peppy and powerful pup having already been a major player in “Superman” — and enjoying a 23rd-birthday pub crawl among planets under a red sun. (Quick reminder: Supergirl, like Superman, draws her incredible powers from a yellow sun, like Earth’s, so she’s at least vaguely normal under a red sun and, importantly, can become intoxicated. The color of suns is a major factor throughout “Supergirl,” and it’s the movie’s most inventive narrative element.)

It is on such a world where a drunken Kara encounters 13-year-old Ruthye Marye Knoll of the Danastia Clan (Eve Ridley), whose family has just been brutally slain by the ruthless Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). Understandably, Ruthye wants revenge against Krem — leader of the Brigants, a band of male pirates and traffickers — and can think of little else.

Advertisement

She’s offering anyone who will help a sword made by her family of skilled weapons makers. The beyond-buzzed Kara isn’t interested, but she gets involved when a scumbag type tries to take the sword. She continues to do her best to fend off Ruthye’s subsequent pleas for assistance in her quest to kill Krem, but when the baddie — in the process of stealing her floating RV of a spaceship — shoots a charging Krypto with a poison dart, Kara has designs on punishing him, too. In fact, she needs to retrieve the specific antidote Krem carries with him to save her four-legged bud.

Milly Alcock, left, as Kara Zor-El, and Eve Ridley, as Ruthye Marye Knoll of the Danastia Clan, appear in a scene from “Supergirl.” (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)

And so the gals are off to other worlds, initially traveling via the space equivalent of a beat-up Greyhound bus, on which they run into a trio of pillaging Sklarian Raiders. The sequence in which Kara retrieves stolen possessions and extracts information from them is as zany as “Supergirl” gets.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending