‘Blanquita’ Review: The Truth Is Hard to Bear
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There are many, many stories about the bearing of the truth in movies, books, TV shows, and even video games. Why? Well, because sometimes there is nothing harder than seeing ourselves in the mirror and seeing that we are not as good as we thought we were. Movies, books, and any art form that tackles this subject are, by nature, very uncomfortable. The truth is hard to bear, and Blanquita, a new film coming to screens this weekend, sees the truth as something that should be searched for, no matter how unpleasant it is.
Blanquita is a film directed by Fernando Guzzoni, and stars Laura Lopez Campbell, Alejandro Goic, Amparo Noguera, and Roberto Farias. The film follows the titular Blanquita, a young girl who has been dealt a bad hand in life. Blanca has been on the streets for a while, and she has been a victim of prostitution, rape, drugs, and many other catastrophes. Now, she has a young baby, and she has returned to the shelter she escaped from some years ago. Only to get trapped in a scandal involving powerful politicians and the voracious media, always ready to cover the story.
Blanquita is a very brief film, clocking in at just barely over 90 minutes. However, its briefness is not only related to its runtime but also to the rhythm at which the developments come and go. The movie is fast and seems like it doesn’t have the time to waste time on things that don’t concern the story it wants to tell. This is excellent because any deviation from the subject could have hurt the urgency and the severity of the events. The movie has come to do one thing, and it does it very well.
Most of the strength of the piece comes from the writing. The movie follows a very strict structure that looks almost effortless from the outside. There are some moments of contemplation here and there; not everything is bound to the plot, but these small moments offer great insight into Blanca’s mental state and who she is as a character. The movie cannot really be labeled as a character study, but Blanca’s personality and identity are the subject of most discussions in the film. The truth is relevant, of course, but where does it come from?
Blanca is beautifully performed by Laura Lopez Campbell. This is Campbell’s first movie, and she just kicks it out of the park by offering a very nuanced and compelling performance. Blanca is not a very showy character. She doesn’t have any showy moments, at least not the ones you might think of when talking about “great acting moments,” but she doesn’t need to. Campbell explores strength through silence, and her expressions serve the character in multiple ways.
A big part of a story that talks about the truth as its main topic is if the truth that is presented to us is reliable. Individual experiences make concepts like truth hard to define, but as a society, we have come to a consensus on many things. So, it is thanks to Campbell’s performance that the movie moves forward, and it is impossible to stop wondering if what she is saying is the truth or not. From there, many more questions arise, and we can, just by asking those questions, learn a bit more about ourselves. The movie never goes overboard with this aspect of it; it is all very subtle.
The entire cast performs their roles very well. There is this sense that everybody is always hiding something. The way the dialogue is delivered tells you that there is always something more in the back of the characters’ heads, and that is fascinating. They could be talking about Blanca or some other subject, but their minds are truly elsewhere. This makes the subject matter even more potent. The movie never stops telling you this is what is happening, but you can just feel it. Alejandro Goic stands out as one of the most interesting characters in the film and is a perfect example of the above.
In terms of visuals, the film uses a very vapid and dark color palette. It fits the tone of the story very well. You just have to hear about the things that Blanca talks about, the things that she said she lived through, to think that, yes, this is a very dark and exhausting world. When you realize in your mind that things like that actually happen in real life and are probably happening as you read this review, well, it is a truly horrifying feeling. How could there be color in a world like this?
In the end, Blanquita is not going to be a movie for everyone. Its subject matter is compelling and will definitely grab some people from beginning to end, but there will be others who truly don’t want to mess with the darkness that this film explores. That is fine. However, for those that get caught up in the story and the performances, it might end up being one of their favorite films of the year. Guzzoni has an amazing talent for depicting and informing the viewer on matters such as the one this movie explores. It will be very interesting to see what he does next.
