This is Cristina

An indie comedy in black and white, making fun of Chilean macho culture and its male chauvinist stereotypes. And about the women’s roles that enable them.

Cristina and Susana are BFFs in their 30s, struggling to grow up. Susana’s sharp tongue makes it hard for her to keep friends for long. Cristina is attracted to men that she can validate without getting a shred of attention in return, besides for being good in bed. When Susana tries to protect Cristina from her self-destructive behaviour, their friendship takes a sharp turn, including a confidence trickster of a father and a self-obsessed writing teacher. Debutant director Gonzalo Maza co-wrote the Oscar-winning A Fantastic Woman. In This is Cristina, he skilfully paints a portrait of women trapped in their assigned roles.

• Maja Kekonius