Paulina García won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for her performance as a vivacious, middle-aged divorcée who finds what may be her last chance for love while grooving on the dance floor of the local singles club.
Gloria (rated 14A) is the next film screening for the Kitchen Stove Film Series presented by the Penticton Art Gallery on April 3.
Gloria Cumplido (Paulina García) is in her late 50s and lives on her own. Divorced for more than 12 years, she has two grown children and a toddler grandson. While she loves her family, she is not ready to move into full-time grand parenting. She is smart, savvy and vivacious. Behind her coquettish demeanour and her oversized glasses is a woman who doesn’t want to settle into a tepid relationship she’s supposed to be grateful for. She wants a real romance, ideally with a partner who loves to dance.
At night, Gloria visits her favourite clubs, filled with other middle-aged singles grooving on the dance floor. Her fragile happiness changes the days she meets the recently separated Rodolfo (Sergio Hernández), an ex-naval officer who is seven years her senior, it seems that she has found one last chance at love.
Their intense passion leaves Gloria vacillating between hope and despair. Gloria begins to imagine a permanent relationship, however the encounter presents unexpected challenges and Gloria gradually finds herself being forced to confront her own dark secrets.
Brilliantly scripted and energized by a keen sense for music, Sebastián Lelio’s fourth feature sensitively portrays a woman facing the reality of aging. Bubbly and exuberant, Gloria is unwilling to compromise in affairs of the heart.
García has been hailed by critics as “breathtaking” as the singular Gloria, as she perfectly transmits the world from the character’s unique, often hilarious perspective.
Despite her missteps, Gloria always maintains her dignity — one can’t help but cheer her on. Most rewarding is rediscovering along with Gloria that, while couples dancing is nice, there is nothing quite as liberating and fulfilling as learning to dance on one’s own.
Lelio’s latest slowly captivates the audience as we accompany its title character on her search for love and adventure. As a director and writer Lelio has received a number of international awards and his second feature film Navidad premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Gloria won the San Sebastian International Film Festival, Film In Progress award in 2012, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival to excellent reviews and Garcia received the festival’s prestigious Best Actress award.
The Kitchen Stove Film Series is an initiative of the Penticton Art Gallery to broaden the definition of the visual arts to include the medium of film. The series is affiliated with the Toronto International Film Festival.
Pre-purchase single tickets for $13 each at the Penticton Art Gallery of The Book Shop. A limited number of single tickets for $15 may be available at the door.
Gloria will be screened at the Landmark Cinema 7 at 4 and 7 p.m. on April 3.
