Gabriela

"Why did God make me like this? If I'm meant to be free?". Writer, director and star Evelyn Lorena's award-winning Gabriela offers thoughtful meditations on identity, heritage and God in a striking directorial debut. Yet, the story masterfully told here is not so much one of breaking boundaries, becoming accepted or becoming a champion in the face of adversity. Rather, this is very much an exploration of a character's inner-life and about them coming to terms with their identity and even, more broadly, their own existence.

Gabriela (Lorena) is a young Guatemalan woman who dreams of being a competitive swimmer. However, her free-willed spirit and independence is repeatedly repressed by her stern mother (Maria Telon), ostracising from her local community and her own conflict with her heritage. Only her boyfriend, Stefan (Viktor White), truly accepts her and for who she is underneath. Nevertheless, the troubled Gabriela - encouraged by memories of her late, beloved father (Miguel Girona) - endures to overcome her demons and find lasting peace.

This is an absorbing film from start to finish, largely helped by the fact that Lorena's script steers away from the melodramatic and sentimental. God and Spirituality are a central theme but Gabriela is never preachy; instead Lorena invests her piece with a moving quiet wisdom and simple yet powerful symbolism. Lorena herself is very effective in a role which is essentially almost a non-speaking part whilst Telon is equally good as her pragmatic mother. "Why swim if you have strength?", Gabriela is told by her at one point. “Did you know that one minute of swimming gives you enough power to start a microwave?”, she replies. Lorena's dialogue is always realistic and believable but even seemingly trivial exchanges like this convey the subtle profundity that seeps throughout the film.

From start to finish, Lorena uses the motif of water to express the inner-balance which Gabriela seeks. Previously, she has been sick and, physically, has made a recovery. Yet, something within has gone. Her father - her mentor and link to God - has departed and she feels detached from her mother, uncomfortable with her skin tone and, other than her relationship with Stefan, she appears friendless. "Sometimes, I just want my voice gone. Just float away" she tells him. Throughout the film, water represents the spiritual side to Gabriela that she yearns to reconnect to. Never does she dream of making it as a prize-winning swimmer; her inherent goal is simply to be in the water and, when there, to finally find the peace and tranquility which has long been alluding her.

Gabriela is simpy short film-making at its best; economical in its dialogue and imagery, gently heartfelt in its performances and carrying with it the warm wisdom of a great script and a moving story. At the film's closure, Gabriela may not be swimming, or even in the water, but inside she is and that's what matters After much strain, she is truly with her mother again and, also, with herself.