A missing-person case draws three women into an inescapable web in this unsettling narco-thriller from first-time director (but experienced editor) Natalia López Gallardo.
A visually stunning, thoughtful, and profoundly unsettling study of the impact of male violence on the lives of three women played out in the pitiless sunlight of rural southern Mexico.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2022
Robe of Gems 2022
Manto de gemas
“Deep in the Mexican countryside, a community is plagued by the constant threat of looming violence. Here, three women from different social classes – a maid, her wealthy employer, and a police officer – become tragically affected by a missing-person case related to organized crime. A work of accruing power and sinister depths simmering below a placid surface, Robe of Gems is the accomplished, unsettlingly oblique debut feature by Berlin Film Festival Silver Bear–winner Natalia López Gallardo (previously an editor for such filmmakers as Carlos Reygadas and Lisandro Alonso). Filled with unshakable images, Robe of Gems weaves an ever-expanding web of characters touched by violence, trauma, and daily rupture.” — New Directors/New Films 2022
“This is a superbly crafted film with impressive cinematography, a rich soundscape, and a strong ensemble. With valuable contributions from her first-rate cast and crew, López Gallardo creates a haunting world marked by violence, loss, and uncertainty. Her methods keep the audience at arm’s length and prove to be quite challenging at times, but the end result is a significant achievement that deserves to be widely seen and discussed.” — Eren Odabası, International Cinephile Society