LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL 2023 REVIEW! Writer-director Andrea Hoyos’ Autoerótica is the story of a 15-year-old girl, Bruna (Rafaella Mey), exploring her newfound teenage desires. She is determined to figure out her sexuality even though her understanding of the concept is incomplete, given that it comes from uninformed discussions with friends and the internet’s open world. Yet, it’s her crisis with her personal identity that drives her. Hence, Bruna must try to find a way of reconnecting with herself.
Bruna is tired of struggling with her single mother’s unstable relationships. Her only solace is her friend, Débora (Micaela Céspedes), and they are introduced to the world of online dating, which is seemingly the fastest route for Bruna to establish her identity. In her naivety, the teen is down for taking risks. At the same time, Bruna tries wrapping her head around an innocent likeness she has for her swimming instructor, Paulina (María del Carmen Gutiérrez).
“…Bruna tries wrapping her head around an innocent likeness she has for her swimming instructor…”
Hoyos’ narrative shares several of the coming-of-age tropes found in Boyhood and Juno. It’s a narrative of adolescence put up in contrast against a conventional and often judgemental society alongside visible character traits of immaturity and lack of communication. The concept isn’t new to the masses, but Autoerótica isn’t an American film. It is set in a Peruvian society, which is a relatively less communicative surrounding, denying transformation at the same pace. Still, this is a timely film, emphasizing certain global social conventions that’ll resonate with everyone.
The first act blends us into Bruna’s psyche. It doesn’t take much focus to figure out the lead. We are sequentially taken through Bruna’s issues and their psychological impacts on her daily life. In turn, this causes her to seek a disobedient path to curb her stress and curiosities. Mey does a splendid job of introducing this character to audiences. Her expressions quite efficaciously represent Bruna’s confusion and curiosity about her adolescence and her disgust towards her mother’s instability and lack of attention to her daughter’s needs. When things turn sour, Mey adds a hint of worry and capitulation alongside little moments of relief.
"…Mey does a splendid job..."
