The Chosen Ones (2015 film)

The Chosen Ones
Directed by David Pablos
Release date
  • 18 May 2015 (2015-05-18) (Cannes)
  • 22 April 2016 (2016-04-22) (Mexico)
Running time
 105 minutes
Country Mexico
Language Spanish

The Chosen Ones (Spanish: Las elegidas) is a 2015 Mexican drama film directed by David Pablos. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.[1][2] The film was named on the shortlist for Mexico's entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.[3]

Plot

Teenagers Ulysis (Oscars Torres) and Sofia (Nancy Talamantes) are in a relationship. It is revealed that Ulysis is being groomed by his family to entrap his young lovers into the prostitution ring that forms his family's business. Having fallen for Sofia his first lover, Ulysis puts up an unsuccessful fight to prevent her from being exploited. His father agrees to let Sofia free only when Ulysis gets another young girl to replace her in the brothel. Thus he sets toward honeytrapping his extensive victim.

Meanwhile, Sofia is pushed further into the flesh trade and hardens up after seeing the chances of her escape getting slimmer as days go by. She finally finds a good samaritan who plans to get her out, but soon before that Ulysis manages to push another girl, Marta into prostitution to replace her and takes Sofia away to live with him.

Getting back to relative freedom and into Ulysis's family, Sofia finds it difficult to be happy or thankful to Ulysis, who is the root cause of her miseries and the reason why she cannot see her family. She also realises another girl has been trapped by Ulysis as her replacement and struggles with this thought. Ulysis in turn tries to please her in futility but cannot get her to revert to the happy sweetheart she was, and also feels guilty about it. The film ends with Sofia and Ulysis on a seemingly normal outing with Ulysis's family but the two youngsters glance at each other probably wondering if things will ever be normal again.

Critical reception

The film was well received by critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 83% of 24 critics gave the film a positive review, for an average rating of 8/10.[4]

Awards and nominations

Award Category Nominee Result
58th Ariel Awards[5]
Best Art Direction Daniela Schneider Nominated
Best Cinematography Carolina Costa Won
Best Costume Design Daniela Schneider Nominated
Best Director David Pablos Won
Best Editing Miguel Schverdfinger, Aina Calleja Nominated
Best Make-Up Nayeli Mora Nominated
Best Original Score Carlo Ayhllón Nominated
Best Original Screenplay David Pablos Won
Best Picture Las Elegidas Won
Best Sound Alejandro de Icaza, Pablo Tamez Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Alicia Quiñonez Nominated
Breakthrough Male Performance Óscar Torres Nominated
Breakthrough Female Performance Nancy Talamantes Won
Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard David Pablos Nominated
San Sebastián International Film Festival Horizons Award David Pablos Nominated
Stockholm International Film Festival Bronze Horse - Best Film David Pablos Nominated
Zurich Film Festival Best International Feature Film David Pablos Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "2015 Official Selection". Cannes. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Screenings Guide". Festival de Cannes. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  3. ↑ Pacheco, Arturo. "Goya y Oscar - AMACC". Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "The Chosen Ones (Las elegidas)". 18 April 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  5. ↑ Magaña, Arturo (13 April 2016). "Nominados al Ariel 2016". Cine Premiere (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 April 2016.
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