Zama (2017)

Based on the novel by Antonio Di Benedetto written in 1956, on Don Diego de Zama, a Spanish officer of the seventeenth century settled in Asunción, who awaits his transfer to Buenos Aires.

Director:

Lucrecia Martel

Writers:

Antonio Di Benedetto (based on the novel by), Lucrecia Martel

Stars:

Daniel Giménez Cacho, Lola Dueñas, Matheus Nachtergaele

41 wins & 47 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Giménez Cacho	...	Zama
Lola Dueñas	...	Luciana
Matheus Nachtergaele	...	Vicuña Porto / Soldado Gaspar Toledo
Juan Minujín	...	Ventura Prieto
Nahuel Cano	...	Fernández
Mariana Nunes	...	Malemba
Carlos Defeo	...	El Oriental
Rafael Spregelburd	...	Capitán Parrilla
Carlos Cano	...	Guardia
Jorge Román	...	Reo
Gustavo Böhm	...	Gobernador I
Massamba Seye	...	Mensajero I
Germán de Silva	...	Indalecio
Vicenzo Navarro Rindel	...	Hijo Oriental
Dolores Ocampo	...	Amanda

Storyline

Zama, an officer of the Spanish Crown born in South America, waits for a letter from the King granting him a transfer from the town in which he is stagnating, to a better place. His situation is delicate. He must ensure that nothing overshadows his transfer. He is forced to accept submissively every task entrusted to him by successive Governors who come and go as he stays behind.

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Plot Keywords:

argentina | spanish colonial | magistrate | governor | colonial | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's premiere was at TIFF in Toronto in September 2017.

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Quotes

Gobernador II: What are you writing?
Fernández: A book, Governor.
Zama: We need to draft a letter to be sealed and...
Gobernador II: A book? A book? Make children, not books. Learn a lesson from our Magistrate, Manuel.
Fernández: I can't know how my children will be. But I do know how this book will be.

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Soundtracks

Siempre en mi corazón
Performed by Ernesto Lecuona

User Reviews

Should I Stay or Should I Go

Martel is a master in narrating boredom, silent craving and hot weather. Much like "La ciénaga" this film is a delight of image and sound, filled with thoughtful details that accurately transport the viewer to a state of mind. It might bear down a little too much but it might just as well make you forget were you are for two hours. In the end it´s worth the pain.

By focusing on officer Zama the more ambitious social or historical commentary is made almost on its own, leaving small excerpts here and there of a much larger and complicated colonial system. The plot is the man and his attempt on staying by leaving, or being by disappearing. Not sure but I feel Martel´s work has more to do with the senses than the mind. Once you dive in it´s definitely a pleasure.

Details

Country:

Argentina Brazil Spain Dominican Republic France Netherlands Mexico Switzerland USA Portugal Lebanon

Language:

Guarani Spanish Portuguese

Release Date:

28 September 2017 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Zama

Filming Locations:

Formosa, Argentina

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,123, 15 April 2018

Gross USA:

$200,600

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$489,692

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bananeira Filmes, Canana Films, Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1