How 'Desde Allá' Manages an Intimate Portrait of Twisted Desire
Desde Allá (Lorenzo Vigas, 2015)
“Desde Allá” is a disconcerting exploration of intimacy, loneliness, and machismo power dynamics set against the backdrop of Caracas, Venezuela. Known for his work in "Los Elefantes Nunca Olvidan" and "La Caja," Vigas demonstrates his adeptness at making a thrilling narrative out of the machinations of the protagonists unconscious mind. This film, co-written with Guillermo Arriaga, who is renowned for his work on "Amores Perros," "21 Grams," and "Babel," is the perfect example of film as literature, fully fueled by the turbulent inner lives of its protagonists.
Some spoilers ahead!
The film's narrative revolves around Armando, played by Alfredo Castro, a middle-aged dental prosthesis craftsman who is emotionally detached and avoids physical contact. And yet, Armando has needs just like any other man, so he calls on Elder to be the object of his voyeuristic and masturbatory kink. After their first encounter ends in violence, Elder and Armando start building this odd and distanced relationship around guilt, or shame, or pity. Pick a terrible starting emotional point to a relationship! This one tops it.
Castro, a Chilean actor known for his roles in "No,” “El Conde” and "Tony Manero," brings a quiet but layered portrayal to Armando, capturing the torment behind his eyes as he secretively chases after an older man later revealed to be his father. Armando's character is a study in contrasts, maintaining a stoic exterior while grappling with deep-seated emotional scars.
Luis Silva, a non-actor from Caracas, plays Elder, a young man from a violent barrio. Silva's raw and authentic performance imbues Elder with a palpable rage and animalistic impulse, which juxtaposes sharply with Armando's emotional repression. The dynamic between these two characters evolves into a rather dark, unbalanced, muddy daddy-son relationship, reflecting the absence of paternal figures in both their lives. This theme of absent fathers and its psychological implications is a recurring motif in Vigas's work, including his short film "Elephants Never Forget," which was part of the official selection at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
The film navigates the devastating effects of internalized homophobia and the emotional intimacy between men. Armando and Elder's relationship is not romantic; instead, their bond is rooted in their shared trauma and emptiness, creating a destructive yet compelling connection. This lack of traditional romance underscores the film's exploration of emotional incompleteness, emphasizing how personal scars shape human connections.
"From Afar" was shot in chronological order, allowing the natural tension between Castro and Silva to build and drive the narrative. They met on set with no prior rehearsals, adding to the authenticity of their interactions. This method of filming over nine weeks also faced the challenge of Venezuela's hyperinflation, requiring daily budget updates to accommodate the rapidly changing economic conditions.
The context of Caracas is crucial to the film's narrative. Vigas portrays a city where moral absolutes are blurred by the chaotic violence of daily life. Elder embodies this violence, reflecting the broader social and economic upheaval in Venezuela. The film highlights the vast social divide in the country, where Elder navigates a society that seems devoid of clear distinctions between good and evil.
The cinematography in "From Afar" by Sergio Armstrong portrays Armando as invisible, moving through the bustling streets of Caracas unnoticed, emphasizing his emotional isolation. The camera work captures the frenzy of the city while maintaining a focus on Armando's solitary existence, an elegant visual simile for his internal state.
"From Afar" is a visually economic film with Mariana Trench-like dark emotional depths dealing with intimacy, powers of consent and societal decay. Lorenzo Vigas, with his collaborators, including Guillermo Arriaga and actors Alfredo Castro and Luis Silva, crafts a narrative that effectively illustrates the complicated existence for many queer men in Caracas.
“Desde Allá” won the Venice Film Festival in 2015, the first Venezuelan film to receive such an honor. You can watch it on Amazon Primer after getting a Strand Releasing free trial.