To Kill the Beast

Argentinian teenage girl searching for lost brother at the Brazilian border in endless, tropical pearl.

Emilia has not seen her brother Mateo in several years. When their mother passes on, she travels from Buenos Aires to find him at his last known address – a distant place in the lush jungle. Here, local myths and legends thrive, and a dangerous being seems to wander about and is believed to be the spirit of an evil man who takes the shape of different animals. Emilia checks into her aunt’s worn-out hostel and a new, inner journey begins. Just as magical and multifaceted as collected and sensual, the feature-film debuting Agustina San Martin presents a startlingly beautiful film about sexual awakening, oppression, and the fear of the unknown.

• Niclas Goldberg