Darkness by Day

  • 76'
  • Argentina
  • 2013
Martín Desalvo (Kept and Dreamless, Tiger Awards Competition 2005) is finally back in Rotterdam with his latest - breathtaking and unsettling - work.
Virginia and her niece Anabel are staying in an old family home surrounded by beaches, woods and rocks. But the initial sunshine doesn't last: right from the opening scene, we know something strange is going on. There is an outbreak of rabies in the area, but the ominous atmosphere points to even greater dangers. Anabel only sleeps during the day, wandering through the dark trees at night. As Virginia's (prescient?) dreams grow increasingly horrific, their dads - tough guys in lumberjack shirts used to being able to tackle any threat - stand by helplessly as darkness looms ever closer.
This dreamlike, stylised Argentinean horror film combines recognisable elements with alienating twists. Desalvo cleverly plays with the genre, and with viewers' expectations.

  • 76'
  • Argentina
  • 2013
Director
Martín Desalvo
Premiere
European premiere
Country of production
Argentina
Year
2013
Festival Edition
IFFR 2014
Length
76'
Medium
DCP
Original title
El día trajo la oscuridad
Language
Spanish
Producers
Pepe Salvia, Laura Mara Tablón
Production Company
Domenica Films
Sales
m-appeal
Screenplay
Martín Desalvo, Josefina Trotta
Cinematography
Nicolás Trovato
Editor
Andrés Tambornino
Production Design
Laura Mara Tablón, Pepe Salvia
Sound Design
Adriano Salgado
Cast
Mora Recalde, Pablo Caramelo
Director
Martín Desalvo
Premiere
European premiere
Country of production
Argentina
Year
2013
Festival Edition
IFFR 2014
Length
76'
Medium
DCP
Original title
El día trajo la oscuridad
Language
Spanish
Producers
Pepe Salvia, Laura Mara Tablón
Production Company
Domenica Films
Sales
m-appeal
Screenplay
Martín Desalvo, Josefina Trotta
Cinematography
Nicolás Trovato
Editor
Andrés Tambornino
Production Design
Laura Mara Tablón, Pepe Salvia
Sound Design
Adriano Salgado
Cast
Mora Recalde, Pablo Caramelo