Ecuadorian filmmaker Ana Cristina Barragán is set to premiere her third feature film, The Ivy (“Hiedra”), at the Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2023. This film continues her exploration of childhood and family themes, focusing on characters who struggle to fit into their environments.
Film Overview and Themes
The Ivy follows the lives of Azucena, a 30-year-old woman, and Julio, a teenager living in a foster home. Their relationship evolves unexpectedly as they come from drastically different backgrounds. Barragán notes that her films share a common thread, addressing issues of family, adolescence, and feelings of isolation and abandonment.
“I think, in some way, these three films are connected. They all deal with themes of family and adolescence,” Barragán explains. “Each one follows characters who, for different reasons, don’t quite fit into the world around them.” This connection to personal and societal struggles is a hallmark of her work, evident in her earlier films, Alba and Octopus Skin.
Exploration of Physical and Emotional Wounds
In The Ivy, Barragán delves into how childhood wounds manifest physically. She reflects, “With The Ivy, I’m once again drawn to exploring childhood wounds — but this time, through the body, through how those early scars manifest physically.” She emphasizes the enduring impact of abandonment and trauma on individuals, particularly how these experiences can lead to post-traumatic stress.
The film’s title symbolizes resilience and beauty intertwined with toxicity, much like the ivy plant itself, which can grow in unexpected places. “It carries a kind of symbolic weight that feels right for what I am trying to express,” she adds.
The casting of non-professional actors further enriches the film’s authenticity. Most notably, Francis Eddú Llumiquinga portrays Julio, while Simone Bucio plays Azucena. Barragán appreciates the rawness and depth that non-professionals bring to their roles, stating, “There’s something about childhood and adolescence — and the wounds that form during those years, which in some way stay with us for life — that really intrigues me.”
Creative Process and Production Insights
To prepare her cast, Barragán conducted an extensive five-month acting workshop, fostering trust and connection among the actors. “We spent a lot of time working together beforehand to build that trust and connection,” she recounts. By engaging in improvisational exercises, the actors were able to develop their characters organically.
The Ivy is a collaborative effort among various production companies: Botón Films from Ecuador, BHD Films from Mexico, Ciné-Sud Promotion from France, and Guspira Films from Spain. The film’s development also benefited from the expertise of Karla Souza, who initially planned to star in the film but now serves as an executive producer.
Following its premiere in Venice, Barragán will present The Ivy at the San Sebastián Film Festival, where she developed the script while attending the Elias Querejeta Film School. The film has already garnered recognition, winning the Special Ciné+ Prize and the CCAS Prize at the Cinélatino Toulouse Films in Progress 2025.
With its poignant exploration of trauma and resilience, The Ivy promises to resonate with audiences, showcasing Barragán’s unique storytelling style and her commitment to highlighting the complexities of human relationships.
