Main Programme  

 “My Mexican Bretzel” opens with black-and-white clips of pilots during World War II in Switzerland, subtitled with excerpts from – so we are told – the diary of Vivian Barrett. She talks about herself and her husband Leon, who partly lost his hearing in an accident with his plane and could no longer fly. The couple’s glamourous life then unfolds in diary excerpts and footage shot by Leon, about whom we also learn that he developed a successful anti-depressant, and has an obsession with many different forms of transportation. The painstakingly edited home movies accompany Vivian’s thoughts and observations, and more abstract visual material represents her fears, secret desires and tormenting dreams. She frequently quotes the Indian guru Kharjapalli, who keeps her going in times of uncertainty and emotional turbulence. Sound is used cleverly and with restrains, reinforcing the images or underscoring the emotions. We realise that the viewer is being manipulated, but to what extent only becomes clear in the end.

Awards

International Film Festival Rotterdam – Found Footage Award, 2020
D’A Film Festival Barcelona – Audience Award, 2020
International Film Festival Gijon – Best Spanish Film Award, 2019
International Film Festival Gijon – “Rcservice” Best Spanish Film Director Award, 2019
International Film Festival Gijon – Best Spanish Film Script Award, 2019

Nuria Giménez

Born in Barcelona in 1976. Studied Journalism, International Relations and Documentary Filmmaking. After her studies, she improved her knowledge of filmmaking by attending masterclasses and seminars of filmmakers she admires. My Mexican Bretzel is her first feature film.

Filmography

Kafeneio, 2017