Cielo - Comments & Tips

[Fantasia '25] There's a mystical quality to the film's opening that leads into the main plot, in which a young girl searches for a way to free her mother from the earthly misery she faces. There's a strong feminine energy to the film, from the journey Santa shares with her mother's body to the encounter with a group of indigenous fighters who call themselves "cholitas," and a somewhat stereotypical view of the uniqueness of the Bolivian environment. What's disappointing is that, in such a sensitively told story, the magical elements don't quite break the traditional narrative and create a conclusion that's sympathetic to the characters, but also feels overly complacent.