La Soledad Film Difficulty Ranking: 4
Do you know much about the current economic situation in Venezuela? If you don’t, and you’re into great art-house film, La Soledad is for you. You’ll see an enchanting old house, which at times reminded me of King Louie’s temple in Jungle Book, decaying as nature slowly reclaims it. You’ll also meet Rosina and her grandson Jose who are struggling to get by. If you’ve got 2 hours spare, soak in this film!
From: Venezuela, South America
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: It's All Good, Hermano, This is Not a Film
Why Watch La Soledad?
- To see a great film from Venezuela!
- Learn a bit about the current economic crisis in Venezuela
- See how buildings can be exploited in film to represent so much!
- Witness the poor/rich divide on class and race
The Breakdown
The film opens with a selection of super 8 tapes of the house (La Soledad) from many years ago. In the old film, the house is full of life. There are kids running around and old folks sitting in chairs, it’s showing some sort of celebration. A narrator tells us that most of the family left the country after great grandma died.
Now, the white family has left the big house. Instead, their former black maid, Rosina, lives there with her son and grand-daughter. Since those times shown on the super 8 film, the house has been invaded by vines and plants. The walls are crumbling and the paint is peeling, the house is slowly decaying. Just like Venezuela, the house has seen better times. It’s decay reflects the current economic crisis in the country.
The race divisions are also obvious. The white family that used to inhabit the house have fled the formerly prosperous neighborhood. They reappear to tell Rosina that she cannot live there much longer as they want to sell the land. In this scene Rosina and the white landlord are shot on either side of the iron gate fence. Rosina is trapped within the decaying house whilst her landlord has managed to escape. It’s clear who’s managing to get through the economic crisis.
La Soledad is enchanting. The old house (like the landscape in Breaking Bad) is like another character. It symbolises so much: decay, class, hope, and fate. It’s so alive that it seems to enchant Jose throughout the film. It also serves as a microcosm of Venezuela’s economic crisis – an incredibly timely watch!
What to Watch Next
Firstly, if you want to watch more films focusing on the crisis in Venezuela, check out It’s All Good, a documentary which focuses on those affected by the medical crisis.
Or, if you love football and want to see another feature film set in Venezuela, check out the roller coaster drama in Hermano.
You could also check out Jafar Panahi’s This is Not a Film, another film set in the director’s house. However, instead of the crumbling of society which La Soledad depicts, This is Not a Film depicts the imprisonment of a director and creativity.
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