The Wolf House

La Casa Lobo

59th TIFF: Greek Premiere

Maria, a young woman, finds refuge in a house in the south of Chile after escaping from a sect of German religious fanatics. She is welcomed by two pigs, the only inhabitants of the place. Like in a dream, the universe of the house reacts to Maria’s feelings. The animals transform slowly into humans and the house becomes a nightmarish world. A fairy tale full of symbolism about the contemporary history of Chile, which, like the house in the title, is found in a state of relentless mutation, loses its direction, and finally tells the story of a new, unknown road.

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.


Direction: Cristobal Leόn & Joaquin Cociña
Script: Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña, Alejandra Moffat
Sound: Claudio Vargas
Production: Diluvio, Globo Rojo
Producers: Catalina Vergara, Niles Atallah
Art Direction: Natalia Geisse, Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cocina
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: Chile
Production Year: 2018
Duration: 75΄
Contact: Diluvio, cine@diluvio.cl
Awards/Distinctions: Caligari Prize – Berlin IFF 2018 Best Latin American Film – Quito Latin American FF 2018 Jury Distinction – Annecy FF 2018 GNCR Prize Special Mention – FidMarseille 2018 Special Mention of the Jury – Future FF Bologna 2018

Cristóbal León

Cristóbal León (born 1980, Chile) has been working with Joaquín Cociña since 2007. In their experimental films, they draw techniques from photography, drawing, sculpture, dance, and performance, to create a new interpretation of religious symbolism and magical rituals – elements that are deeply rooted in the traditional culture of Latin America. The papier mâché figures and innocent-looking drawings strongly contrast with the heavy topics, such as religion, sex and death, the films deal with. Next to their screening in international film festivals, their work is frequently exhibited in museums and biennial exhibitions in Latin America, but it has also been presented at venues such as the Whitechapel Gallery, KW Berlin, the Venice Biennial 2013 and Art Basel Statements 2012. They are represented by Upstream Gallery (Amsterdam). In 2018, the Thessaloniki Film Festival has presented a tribute to their work.

Filmography

2007 Lucía (short/co-directed)
2009 Der kleinere raum | The Smaller Room (short/ co-directed)
2011 Padre. Madre. (short/co-directed)
2013 Los Andes (short/co-directed)
2018 La Casa Lobo | The Wolf House (co-directed)
2019 Extrañas criaturas | Strange Creatures (co-directed)

Joaquín Cociña

Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña (both 1980, Chile) have been working together since 2007. In their experimental films, they draw techniques from photography, drawing, sculpture, dance, and performance, to create a new interpretation of religious symbolism and magical rituals – elements that are deeply rooted in the traditional culture of Latin America. The papier mâché figures and innocent-looking drawings strongly contrast with the heavy topics, such as religion, sex and death, the films deal with. Next to their screening in international film festivals, their work is frequently exhibited in museums and biennial exhibitions in Latin America, but it has also been presented at venues such as the Whitechapel Gallery, KW Berlin, the Venice Biennial 2013 and Art Basel Statements 2012. They are represented by Upstream Gallery (Amsterdam). Their first full-length film La Casa Lobo premiered at the 68th Berlinale in 2018, where it was awarded the Caligari Film Prize.

Filmography

2007 Lucía
2008 Luís
2009 Der Kleinere Raum | The Smaller Room
2010 Weathervane
2011 Padre. Madre. | Father. Mother.
2011 El Templo | The Temple
2011 El Arca | The Arc
2012 La Bruja Y El Amante | The Witch And The Lover
2012 Los Andes | The Andes
2016 La Madrasta | The Stepmother
2017 Viva Chillan: Una Crueldad Innecesaria
2018 La Casa Lobo | The Wolf House