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Teodora Mihai Presents La civil at the 19th FICM and Dedicates It to the People Who Continue to Search for Their Family

Gustavo R. Gallardo

Romanian director Teodora Mihai presented her film La civil (2021) as part of a special screening at the 19th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), attended by the festival's founder and general director Daniela Michel, the producer Eréndira Núñez, and the actresses Arcelia Ramírez and Mónica del Carmen.

Daniela Michel said that she saw the film at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section and that at the end of the screening the actress Arcelia Ramírez received an ovation.

"It was a magical, wonderful performance. Teodora has perfectly captured our culture, our idiosyncrasy, it is her first film, and we were dazzled by her talent. It is a film that speaks of the strength of women, of the need to build peace," she said.

The director took the opportunity to thank FICM for inviting them to screen the film, and said she was excited to be in the capital of Michoacán after a long and complicated road, "what a pride that we can finally share with you."

Arcelia Ramírez said she was very happy, honored and grateful to FICM, a very special festival to her for its stage and "wonderful compliments for the most important project." She said, adding that "it is also an incredible meeting place for professionals."

She said the film was shot despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is "a powerful speech about a deep debt that this country has and we hope that this look from Teodora's standpoint contributes to bring more consciousness to it, to let it burst in our hearts, minds and stomachs so that something can happen with this problem and change for the better."

The producer Eréndira Núñez said she was excited to finally present it to the Mexican audience and revealed Teodora Mihai really wanted to be at FICM to present it: "Daniela saw the movie in Cannes and immediately said: 'Come to Morelia.' Thank you very much for the invitation, I am very excited to see it, I have not seen the finished product, so it will be a special screening for me as well as for all of you."

Teodora Mihai recognized the acting work of Arcelia Ramírez. "You are going to see that she did an exceptional job," she said. The actress thanked her in return for placing "this incredible character" in her hands. The producer joined in their gratitude, recognizing her work and "everything she went through."

"This story speaks of such an important issue, of a deep wound. I want to dedicate it to all the families who are still looking for their family," the director concluded.

La civil tells the story of Cielo, a woman who's daughter, Laura, is kidnapped by a cartel in northern Mexico that fails to free her even after the ransom is paid. The lack of interest from the authorities to help her makes her take the matter into her own hands, and she finds support in a military man with an unconventional modus operandi, in exchange for information. Her collaboration will drag her into a terrible violent spiral.