Isadora Chavez Steals the Show in ‘Octopus Skin’ Amidst Breathtaking Ecuadorian Scenery
Octopus Skin (2023)
Directed by Ana Cristina Barragan
Starring Isadora Chavez, Juan Francisco and Hazel Powell
As seen at the 42nd Annual Vancouver International Film Festival
The documentary-quality underwater visuals, while striking, are hardly the focal point of 2023 fable Octopus Skin. In her second film, Ecuadorian director Ana Cristina Barragan enchants viewers with a visual feast that transcends mere imagery.
Set primarily on a secluded island, the film’s sound design is awash with the hypnotic echoes of waves and the calls of aquatic birds. These rich, contrasting sounds captivated me, even before the characters seized my attention with their primal physicality.
Optimum Immersion is important, but I must entice you to watch this film, and a brief plot overview should pique your interest. A mother and her three teenage children – Iris, Ariel and Lia – lead a simple life on an Ecuadorian island, with a bustling city just across the water. The setting strongly echoes the Banshees of Inisherin. In both films, characters lead secluded lives yet are acutely aware of grander events unfolding nearby. In Banshees, island residents chat about mundane topics like bathroom habits, even as a distant war rages on. For the family in Octopus Skin, the omnipresent mainland serves as a perpetual testament to a different way of life.
Dialogue is sparse on the island, particularly in the first act, creating a deliberate silence that sets the stage for revelatory moments later in the film. As spoken words grow increasingly central, they evolve into a powerful narrative device.
This coming-of-age story emphasizes Iris’s stunted growth more than the triumphs that await her, creating a melancholy that permeates the entire film. Isadora Chavez, in the role of Iris, captures the essence of youthful spirit in an authentic and compelling way, outshining performances from actors of the past in similar roles. Daisy Edgar-Jones in Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) and Jodie Foster in Nell (1994) come to mind. While Octopus Skin boasts beautifully engaging cinematography, an amazing score and sound design, and a top-notch screenplay, it’s Chavez’s performance that truly anchors it. Without her, the film might feel somewhat forced or even slightly exploitative.
Octopus Skin steers clear of the cringeworthy territory of Hollywood “lost on an island” films like The Blue Lagoon (1980). It feels more like an alternate world version of a less comedic Dogtooth (2009) by Yorgos Lanthimos. While Ecuador provides a breathtaking backdrop, director Ana Cristina Barragan doesn’t present it merely as a tourist destination. Instead, she immerses you in the emotions of a family lost in grief, illness, and isolation, causing the viewer to ask “can Iris create a different path for herself?
With the Vancouver International Film Festival now behind us, another question to ask yourself is is “how can I find a way to watch this beautiful and poignant film?”
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