The Comox Valley Art Gallery/TIFF Winter Film Series continues March 9 at 5 p.m. with Gloria, Chile’s official Best Foreign Language Film entry for the 2014 Academy Awards.
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 grandparenting. Behind her coquettish demeanour and oversized glasses is a smart, savvy and vivacious 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. When she meets the recently separated Rodolfo (Sergio Hernández), it seems that she has found one last chance at love.
Brilliantly scripted and energized by a keen sense for music, 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, who won a Silver Bear at Berlin for her performance, is breathtaking as Gloria: The camera never leaves her, as she perfectly transmits the world from the character’s unique, often hilarious perspective.
Lelio slowly captivates the audience as we accompany the title character on her search. Gloria always maintains her dignity despite her missteps, and 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.
Tickets are available at the CVAG gift shop at 580 Duncan Ave. in downtown Courtenay (sixth and Duncan) and at the door if available (Door: cash only, exact change appreciated). All screenings are at the Rialto Theatre at 5 p.m. (Driftwood Mall — 2665 Cliffe Ave. in Courtenay).
To purchase tickets over the phone, call CVAG at 250-338‑6211. For complete film series information, visit www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com
— Comox Valley Art Gallery
