Meritxell Colell premieres in Locarno 'Far from the Trees,' a sound journey between America and Catalonia

Meritxell Colell presents at Locarno 'Far from the Trees', a film that unites Catalonia and Peru through family memory and endangered languages. This work portrays the journey of a Mexican sound artist who seeks to complete the legacy of her exiled grandfather, exploring silences and memories that have marked generations.

The project arises from the need to tell silenced stories, offering a perspective that goes beyond pain to embrace love and repair, with an approach that connects with viewers without being a hard film.

Adela’s intimate and sonic journey

How is the main character and her mission presented?

Adela, created from the Mexican protagonist Angélica Castelló, is a sound artist who travels through the jungle and Andes of Peru to create a sound map of endangered languages. This journey is also a return to childhood and a confrontation with the family silences inherited from the Catalan exile.

Why does family memory matter to local audiences?

The memory conveyed by the film touches the roots of many Catalan families. Silences about the civil war and exile still persist, and this film offers a way to talk about them, making visible emotions and memories that many will recognize or feel close to.

The fragility of languages and collective memory

What relationship does the film establish between languages and memory?

Colell emphasizes that when a language disappears, a way of understanding the world also fades. The film champions the musicality and richness of minority languages like Quechua, highlighting the concept of "linguicide" and the need to preserve this cultural and sonic heritage.

How is this issue reflected in the local context?

Catalan viewers can recognize in this issue a metaphor of their own society’s memory, where the fragility of memories and generational transmission are essential to understanding identity and unresolved wounds.

Presence at Locarno and the responsibility of cinema

Why is participation in the Official Section of the Festival relevant?

Competing at Locarno is not only a recognition of Meritxell Colell’s prestige but also provides a platform to give visibility to themes such as exile, family silences, and language preservation, which often remain invisible in commercial circuits.

What responsibility does the director assume in constructing the narrative?

Colell argues that cinema plays a key role in how present memory is portrayed and that films funded with public resources must consider what they tell and how. This implies a commitment to the emotional and social truth reflected in this work.

Source of the article: Nico Tomás / Catalan News Agency