As the sun sets on the 2022 film festival season and we head into awards season, we are starting to see many of the films screened making their theatrical and streaming debuts. One of the well-received films we have listed as a 2023 Oscars shortlist contender is “The Box” (previously titled “La Caja”).
“The Box,” tells the story of Hatzín, an orphaned teenager who lives in Mexico City with his grandmother. When he is contacted that his late father’s remains are discovered, he is contacted to come to pick them up. While returning from doing so, he sees a man who resembles his late father and approaches him. Believing that this man is his father, Hatzín doesn’t return home but finds himself sucked into the manufacturing industry.
As in his debut film “From Afar,” “The Box” sees director Lorenzo Vigas return to the topic of absent fathers through the cinematography of Sergio Armstrong. The story is emotional, as we see our protagonist struggle with his morals, what he is willing to do and sacrifice in order to have a father, and the impacts greed and corruption have on humanity.
The film, Venezuela’s Oscar submission for Best International Feature, will be released theatrically on November 4 at Cinema Village in New York City, followed by the streaming release on MUBI on November 11.
Vigas, who won the Golden Lion at the 2015 Venice Film Festival for “From Afar,” also produced and co-wrote “The Box” with award-winning writers Paula Markovitch and Laura Santullo. The film initially premiered in the official competition at Venice and made an appearance in Toronto, San Sebastian, BFI London, San Francisco, and Miami.
“The Box” stars Elián Gonzalez, Hatzín Navarrete, Hernán Mendoza and Cristina Zulueta. You can watch the official trailer below.
