Valentina or the Serenity
Valentina or the Serenity (Spanish: Valentina o la serenidad) is a 2023 Mexican drama film written, co-produced and directed by Ángeles Cruz. Starring Danae Ahuja Aparicio who plays a little girl who will use her imagination to face the premature death of her father. It had its world premiere at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2023 as part of the Discovery section.

 Synopsis 
Valentina is a happy, adventurous, enthusiastic and curious little girl in her environment full of nature, characteristic of the town of Villa Guadalupe Victoria, Oaxaca where she lives. One day, she receives the news that her father died in a river accident in the middle of a stormy night. However, she clings to her imagination and the promise that her father told her to return with a gift, causing discomfort in the rest of her family who don't know how to make her understand that her father will never return.

 Cast 

 Danae Ahuja Aparicio as Valentina
 Myriam Bravo as Valentina's mom
 Alexander Gadiel Mendoza Sanchéz as Pedro

 Production 

 Development 
Ángeles Cruz was inspired by her own personal experiences related to death, especially the sudden death of her father when she was 9 years old, which changed the perspective of her world. In 2020, during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her younger brother died, which forced her to face the death of a loved one again and was the motivation for making the film. That same year the first draft of the script was completed.

 Filming 
Principal photography began on August 15, 2022, in Villa de Guadalupe Victoria, Oaxaca, where the director is originally from.

 Release 

 Festivals 
It had its world premiere on September 8, 2023, in the Discovery section of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, then screened on October 23, 2023, at the 21st Morelia International Film Festival, on November 14, 2023, at the 8th International Indigenous Film Festival in Wallmapu, on November 15, 2023, at the 49th Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival, on March, 17, 2024, at the Cinélatino Festival Rencontres de Toulouse, on April 9, 2024, at the 48th Cleveland International Film Festival, on May 17, 2024, at the 50th Seattle International Film Festival, and on May, 22, 2024, at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

 Theatrical 
It is scheduled to be released commercially on September 26, 2024, in Mexican theaters.

 Accolades 
YearAward / FestivalCategoryRecipientResultRef.202321st Morelia International Film FestivalBest Feature FilmValentina or the Serenity49th Huelva Ibero-American Film FestivalColón de OroBest PerformanceMyriam BravoMost Supportive Film AwardValentina or the SerenityBroken Heart Award2024Festival Ojoloco du Cinéma Ibérique et Latino-Américain de GrenoblePrix Du Jury Étudiant48th Cleveland International Film FestivalInternational Narrative Competition - Best Feature Film50th Seattle International Film FestivalIbero American Competition - Grand Jury Prize66th Ariel AwardsBest Supporting ActressMyriam BravoBest Breakthrough PerformanceDanae Ahuja AparicioBest Original ScreenplayÁngeles Cruz

 References 

 External links 
 

Category:2023 films
Category:2023 drama films
Category:Mexican drama films
Category:2020s Spanish-language films
Category:Films set in Mexico
Category:Films shot in Mexico
Category:Films about death
Category:Films about children
Category:Films about father–daughter relationships
Category:Films about mother–daughter relationships
Category:Mixtec-language films
Category:Films about families
Category:2020s Mexican films