La Fortaleza (film)

La Fortaleza is a 2020 drama film directed by Jorge Thielen Armand.[1] It premiered in the Tiger Competition of the 49th International Film Festival Rotterdam.[2] A co-production between Venezuela, Colombia, France and The Netherlands, the film premiered in Venezuelan cinemas on 23 December 2021.

La Fortaleza
Poster
Directed byJorge Thielen Armand
Written by
  • Jorge Thielen Armand
  • Rodrigo Michelangeli
Produced by
  • Rodrigo Michelangeli
  • Manon Ardisson
  • Jorge Thielen Armand
  • Rodolfo Cova
  • Zach Lebeau
  • Kim Jackson
Starring
  • Jorge Roque Thielen H.
  • Carlos "Fagua" Medina
  • Yoni Naranjo
  • Leudys Naranjo
CinematographyRodrigo Michelangeli
Edited byFelipe Guerrero
Music byLeila Bordreuil
Production
companies
La Faena Films, Mutokino, Viking Film, In Vivo Films, Breaker, Ardimages UK, Genuino Films
Release dates
  • January 2020 (2020-01) (IFFR)
  • December 23, 2021 (2021-12-23) (Venezuela)
Countries
  • Venezuela
  • Colombia
  • France
  • Netherlands
LanguageSpanish

Plot

La Fortaleza is inspired by the real life story of the filmmaker's father, Jorge Roque Thielen, who in turn plays the main character. It is noted that the film oscillates between fiction and reality.

Roque, the protagonist, dives into the jungle to escape from his alcoholism, his demons and the social and economic crisis in Venezuela. However, the meeting with old friends and the promises of gold at a work in a mine divert his desire for redemption and he enters a vicious circle of violence around mining. This will make him sink in a cycle that devours his interior. In that moment, he will need the fortitude to emerge from the darkness and walk toward a new beginning.

Cast
  • Jorge Roque Thielen H.
  • Carlos "Fagua" Medina
  • Yoni Naranjo
  • Leudys Naranjo

Reception

Jordan Cronk of Film Comment claimed that La Fortaleza was "a solemn tale of exile and redemption".[3] Sergio Monsalve of El Nacional wrote that "in its paradoxes lies the best cinema of Venezuela".[4] It also received the Special Mention in the Rome Independent Film Festival 2020.[5][6]

Awards and nominations
Award Category Recipient(s) Result References
Festival Biarritz Amérique-Latine Jury Prize Jorge Thielen Armand Winner [7][8]
Festival de la Crítica Cinematográfica de Caracas Best Film Jorge Thielen Armand Winner [9]
Best Director Jorge Thielen Armand Winner
Best Cinematography Rodrigo Michelangeli Winner
Festival del Cine Venezolano Best Supporting Actor Yoni Naranjo Winner [10]
Cinema Tropical Awards Best Latinamerican Film Jorge Thielen Armand Nominated [11]

References
  1. "Jorge Thielen Armand". John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  2. "La Fortaleza | IFFR". iffr.com. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  3. "Dispatch: Rotterdam 2020". Film Comment. 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  4. Monsalve, Sergio (2020-10-02). "Deconstrucción en primera persona". EL NACIONAL (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  5. "Film competition 2020". RIFF - Rome Independent Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  6. "La Fortaleza". RIFF - Rome Independent Film Festival. 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  7. Nacional, El (2020-10-04). "La fortaleza, de Jorge Thielen, ganó el Premio del Jurado del Festival de Cine de Biarritz". EL NACIONAL (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  8. "La Fortaleza". Festival de Biarritz América Latina (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  9. Nacional, El (2020-12-07). "La Fortaleza triunfa en el primer Festival de la Crítica de Caracas". EL NACIONAL (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  10. "XVI Festival del Cine Venezolano 2020". Festival del cine venezolano. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  11. "11th Cinema Tropical Awards". Cinema Tropical. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
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