A seemingly simple mission takes an unexpected turn in this hallucinatory, weird and sinister film.
Rio de Janeiro, 1996. Firefighter Ana and her team are tasked with evacuating a care home in danger of collapsing. Upon arrival, however, the carers and patients turn out to have completely different ideas. When the team surveys the building for damage and occupants, they come upon some bizarre surprises.
Argentinian director Cristian Ponce crashed on the scene with his debut film History of the Occult (2020), winner of the Black Tulip Award at Imagine 2021. The premise of A Mother’s Embrace may not sound very original, but the film takes an unexpected turn once the team arrives at the care home, turning their seemingly simple assignment into a shadow world expedition without an exit. Characters and situations no longer function logically and disorientate both firefighters and audience. The hallucinatory imagery and disruptive soundscape all add to an uncommonly weird and sinister film.
