Displaying items by tag: Elena Sabe/ Elena Knows movie

ELENA KNOWS/ELENA SABE

Argentina, 2023, 100 minutes, Colour.

Mercedes Moran, Erica Rivas, Mey Scapola, Miranda de la Serna Agustina Munoz.

Directed by Anahí Berneri.

This is a very emotional drama, a focus on two women, mother and daughter, the personality of the mother, strong and demanding, in her 60s, her health. Then there is her daughter, the relationship between mother and daughter, the daughter’s work, outlets, relationships – and then her death. The emotion is in the response of the mother to her daughter’s death, not believing that her daughter could kill herself.

There are religious and church complications, the priest finding the daughter’s body, the mother’s suspicions, accusations.

Ultimately, with many interactions, especially from the daughter’s friend, Pablo, and the mother, Elena, finally coming to some understanding of her daughter, the nature of the relationship, and some understanding of herself.

1. Focus on Elena, her relationship with her daughter, her daughter’s death, the aftermath?
2. The Argentinian city, homes, streets, church, medical centre, school?
3. The framework of the film, Elena, 65, Parkinson’s, shuffling through the streets, the Metro, the buses, head bowed, falling?
4. The transition to Rita, her age, after her mother, exasperated with her mother, sobbing? Taking her to the beauty parlour? Offering to pick her up later? Elena and the beauty treatment, waiting, taken home, the rain, the police arriving, the news of Rita’s death?
5. The flashbacks, the building up of the relationship between Elena and Rita, love, tensions, Elena as a dominating figure, the scene on the cliffs, her climbing, the wet towel, bonding with Rita? The scenes at home, Elena’s attitude towards the treatment of Rita at school, her friend Isabel, Rita bringing Isabel home, Elena’s criticisms, the pregnancy and Isabel’s family? The episode with ousting the cat? The effect on Rita, self-image? The visits to the doctor, the medications?
6. The emerging portrait of Rita, her early life, relationship with her mother, her working two shifts, financial support, her mother’s care, the relationship with Pablo, the bonding, her breaking it off (anticipating her death?)? The final scene with her mother, sobbing, leaving the beauty parlour?
7. The role of the church, Rita and her devotion to the priest, working with him, the gossip of the girls about the relationship, against the church, hanging herself? The priest, the altar boys discovering the body, ringing the authorities, waiting till after Mass? The priest and the ceremony, his prayer, trying to cancel Elena, her fierce reaction against him?
8. Elena, viewing the body, the injuries to the neck, her refusing to believe her daughter killed herself, visiting the police, criticisms, her daughter’s diary, making demonstrations, the placard on the street?
9. The school, her visit, the memorial service, Rita and the planting of the rosebush, Elena and her discussions with Pablo, his character, bank, helping Elena, his devotion to Rita, sad at the breaking up, at the funeral, his visits to Elena, going to the ceremony?
10. The visit to Isabel, lawyer, Elena wanting her to take on the case, that Rita was killed? Memories of the past, Isabel’s resentment, the abortion, the birth, her parents caring for the child?
11. Elena, self-centred, dominant, over her daughter, her daughter killing herself, Elena at the end, realising the reasons?