Dominga Sotomayor returns to Cannes with her intimate drama "La Perra," premiering at Directors' Fortnight after a five-year absence from the festival. The Chilean director's latest film, adapted from Pilar Quintana's novel, marks a creative collaboration between Chilean producer Planta and Brazilian outfit RT Features.
Sotomayor made a deliberate choice to retain the Spanish title rather than translate it to English, a decision rooted in protecting the film's thematic core. The director explained her reasoning, noting that translating "La Perra" into English would risk inviting reductive judgment about women and their agency. The untranslated title preserves the work's original context and prevents audiences from importing preconceived notions tied to the English equivalent.
The casting of Brazilian actor Selton Mello carries what Sotomayor describes as a "meta" element. The director crafted the role with deliberate layers of meaning surrounding Mello's presence in the frame. This casting choice operates on multiple registers within the narrative, adding textural complexity to the tender drama.
"La Perra" continues Sotomayor's established reputation for intimate, character-driven storytelling. Her previous Cannes appearance came through "The Year of the Everlasting Storm," an anthology project that brought together multiple international voices. That five-year gap underscores how selective Sotomayor remains about her festival presence and project selection.
The film's production represents a meaningful cross-border partnership between Chile and Brazil, two Latin American cinema powers with distinct stylistic traditions. By setting "La Perra" within this collaborative framework, Sotomayor positions the project within a regional conversation while maintaining her distinctive artistic voice.
Directors' Fortnight at Cannes provides the perfect venue for this kind of formally adventu