Abel

The latest fable from the Mexican New Wave is a finely-balanced dramatic comedy, nodding to recent classics (Pan’s Labyrinth, A Little Princess) and time-honoured texts (Hamlet, Oedipus). A-listed at the Cannes, Sundance, San Sebastián and London International fi lm festivals, and winner of the Horizontes Award at San Sebastián, Abel is the fictional directorial debut of acclaimed Mexican actor Diego Luna (Milk, Y Tu Mamá También), executive-produced by John Malkovich and Gael García Bernal.

Abel is a nine-year-old boy who has refused to speak since his father left the family home, his behaviour resulting in him being placed in a psychiatric facility. His single mother, convinced that a reunion with his brother and sister might help his condition, persuades Abel’s doctor to release the boy for a single week. To everyone’s surprise Abel starts to speak again, and seems to believe he is now the head of the family. As he oversees his siblings’ homework and interrogates his sister’s new boyfriend, no-one dares challenge this miracle. Then, one day, a man shows up at the door: his father…

SPECIAL FEATURES
[] Abel Chile Premiere Video Diary
[] Two Q&As with Diego Luna, writer Augusto Mendoza, actor Christopher Ruiz Esparza and producer Pablo Cruz
[] 2010 Interview with Diego Luna, Augusto Mendoza and Christopher Ruiz Esparza
[] Trailer
[] Image Gallery
[] booklet

This film is available for non-theatrical bookings. If you run a film society and you wish to organise a screening of this film, please contact [email protected], who will be happy to discuss this with you further.