10 · 18 · 26

Nathalia Acevedo Presents SALÓN DE BELLEZA at the 24th FICM

Gabriela Martínez

The 24th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) hosted a press conference for the film Salón de belleza, directed by Nathalia Acevedo, and part of the Official Selection in competition for the Ojo Award for Best Mexican Feature Film.

The conference was attended by Nathalia Acevedo; the author of the eponymous novel, Mario Bellatin; producers Paulina Valencia and Matt Porterfield; and production designer Nathan Parker

Salón de belleza is actress Nathalia Acevedo’s directorial debut, adapted from one of the most important works of contemporary literature. In an unnamed city, a beauty salon becomes a refuge for those who have been marginalized—suspended between life and death. At its heart, the individuals tend to the space while time, memory, and imagination intertwine. When the outside world silently intrudes, beauty and death converge in a meditation on the fragility of existence.

“This film is made with the intention of asking more questions rather than seeking answers. We allowed ourselves to explore how to express this without actually using the word. We wanted it to be a more dreamlike experience, with the intention of letting go,” stated the director.

Writer Mario Bellatin said he was pleased to witness his text being reinterpreted through the language of cinema: “My dream as a creator came true. I hoped someone would be able to construct their own narrative based on the book. Being able to ‘read’ myself in a different way is very important for me to reflect on my own writing.”

Nathalia Acevedo

The director added that “death is not an easy topic for either the director or the viewer. For me, the greatest gift is seeing this text remain relevant in some way—it even speaks louder now than when it was written. We’re surrounded by beauty and death. We see that there’s a widespread pandemic—not just in terms of health, but also in politics and violence.”