Chilean actress Paulina García, celebrated for her Berlinale Silver Bear win for 'Gloria,' is stepping behind the camera to direct her first feature film, 'The Passion According to Carmen' ('La Pasión según Carmen').
Plot and Characters
Described as 'the coming-of-age story of an adult woman,' the film revolves around Carmen, a journalist with a seemingly happy life, a close-knit circle of friends, and a stable marriage to Nico, with whom she shares a 20-year-old daughter. The peace is disrupted by the death of her grandmother and best friend, Mar.
The turning point arrives on Carmen's 50th birthday when she follows her estranged daughter to a feminist protest. A rock hits her head, leading to an unexpected awakening. She is rescued by women and taken to Santiago’s Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, where she meets Lina, entering a world of sensuality and liberation that triggers profound transformation.
Creative Collaboration
García conceived the film with Mariana Loyola, known for 'Rara' and 'The Maid,' who co-wrote the screenplay with Josefina Fernández. Loyola stars as Carmen, while García plays Lina, Carmen’s new passion.
García and Loyola founded Cautiva, a production company aimed at developing femme-oriented original content. This debut feature is co-produced with Storyboard Media's Gabriela Sandoval and Carlos Núñez, who recently attended the Premios Platino in Mexico.
Expanding the Cast
The production team is in talks with prominent Latin American actors to complete the cast, seeking international co-production partners to enhance the film's reach.
Said García: “Mariana and I experienced together, both personally and in the streets, the feminist wave of #MeToo, #NiUnaMenos and Chile’s #SocialOutburst. During the COVID lockdown, we began asking ourselves which women had been shaken by that wave. What happens to a woman from another shore when she crosses the river and encounters ‘All of Us’?”
Exploring Feminist Impact
García emphasized their desire to explore the impact of fourth-wave feminism on women over 50. “We want to portray the physical and emotional transformation women experience in adulthood. What happens when women live in freedom? Will we ever truly be free?” she commented.
Producer Gabriela Sandoval remarked that 'The Passion According to Carmen' ventures into unexplored territory in international cinema, focusing on the emotional, political, and sexual awakening of an adult woman. “It is a project with strong distribution potential, not only because of the universality of its themes, but also because of the uniqueness of its perspective.”
Sandoval also highlighted the significance of supporting García's directorial debut, stating that the film connects the intimate with the political, showcasing the strengths of Chilean cinema in telling stories rooted in their own region while resonating globally.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/global/paulina-garcia-debut-the-passion-according-to-carmen-1236750310/
