{"id":3837,"date":"2026-07-09T08:37:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T08:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=3837"},"modified":"2026-07-09T08:37:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T08:37:17","slug":"acclaimed-chilean-filmmaker-valeria-sarmiento-bids-farewell-to-directing-with-affecting-childhood-sexual-abuse-drama-behind-the-rain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=3837","title":{"rendered":"Acclaimed Chilean Filmmaker Valeria Sarmiento Bids Farewell to Directing With Affecting Childhood Sexual Abuse Drama \u2018Behind the Rain\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>\n\tRenowned Chilean filmmaker Valeria Sarmiento has a long history of prodding at memory in her films. The veteran has directed more than 30 features addressing the situation of women in a patriarchal culture, having won awards at major festivals like San Sebasti\u00e1n and earning Golden Bear and Golden Lion nominations. Her latest, \u201cBehind the Rain,\u201d marks Sarmiento\u2019s last directorial effort following a career spanning over half a century and marked by dozens of collaborations with her late husband, famed Chilean director Ra\u00fal Ruiz.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=3835\">Auteurs and Showrunners Dominate Emmy Nominations in Writing and Directing Categories<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\u201cBehind the Rain,\u201d premiering in Karlovy Vary Film Festival\u2019s prestigious Crystal Globe Competition, follows psychology professor Sofia (Paula Prado). Just as the young woman is set to return to her hometown following the end of her postgraduate studies, a girl\u2019s body is discovered there, unravelling painful memories of past trauma and sending Sofia through a pained process of self-reflection.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\n\tSpeaking with <em>Variety <\/em>ahead of the film\u2019s world premiere, Sarmiento recalls how the first inkling of an idea for the film came about as she and producer Chamila Rodr\u00edguez were mixing Ruiz\u2019s \u201cThe Tango of the Widower and Its Distorting Mirror.\u201d \u201cIn a moment of rest, we talked about painful childhood experiences,\u201d she says. \u201cI told her I had a script we tried to make in Lisbon, then again in the U.K. and Locarno with that theme. Chamila told me we could try shooting it in Chile.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\n\tActor-turned-producer Rodr\u00edguez, who has closely collaborated with Sarmiento since 2008\u2019s \u201cSecrets,\u201d remembers that conversation well. \u201cI suggested she return to the beginning of this story, which was in Chile. We worked on the project for seven years and I became deeply involved both as a woman and an artist because of the sensitive nature of the subject matter. These are stories that the vast majority of women experience, and which are silenced by a society that hides them from the perspective of patriarchy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\n\tSarmiento knew she wanted to shoot the film in monochrome as \u201cwhen talking about the past, I see it in black and white.\u201d Commenting on the film\u2019s title, the director recalls yet another anecdote, saying that when she was just a young girl, her mother used to plead with her to look \u201cbehind the rain\u201d \u2014 to pay close attention to details. \u201cThis is also what I ask of my audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\u201cBehind the Rain\u201d blends several genre elements, from the classic detective movie to the cop thriller and film noir. Asked about how she approached this juggling of formal languages, Sarmiento reiterates, \u201cThis is not a police film.\u201d \u201cIt has [certain] elements, but there are no patrols, no police cars that come to arrest the culprits\u2026 I insist the viewer needs to look beyond that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=3833\">Patrick Dempsey Gave \u2018Real Thought\u2019 to Running For Senate in Maine After Graham Platner Scandal: \u2018I\u2019m Concerned About the Direction Our Country Is Heading\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\tThe ambitious nature of the project as well as its sensitive themes made it a considerable challenge for Rodr\u00edguez, who says it was \u201cvery difficult\u201d to secure funding for the film. \u201cValeria always wanted subtlety and an intimate perspective [to the film]. We faced several obstacles along the way and I\u2019m certain it was possible thanks to our perseverance, determination, courage, and, of course, our love for cinema.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\n\tRodr\u00edguez\u2019s long journey to getting the film funded also speaks to the reality of making films in her native Chile, which currently has a successful, vibrant new generation of filmmakers \u2014 including recent Cannes-selected Manuela Martelli and Dominga Sotomayor \u2014\u00a0 but is still, like almost everywhere in the world, struggling with available resources.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\u201cThe priority in Chile right now is to emphasize the importance of sufficient state and government funding for film production and filmmaking,\u201d says Rodr\u00edguez. \u201cIt\u2019s crucial to understand that cuts to culture, the arts and heritage are disastrous for the spirit of our people, a setback for the film industry, and a hindrance to the projection of our territories, our communities and our people to the world.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\n\tAs for what is next for Sarmiento and Rodr\u00edguez, the duo is continuing their longtime mission of restoring Ra\u00fal Ruiz\u2019s work. \u201cWe have just started working on the restoration, post-production and completion of Ruiz\u2019s heritage jewel \u2018La Colonia Penal.\u2019 This is our focus in 2026, so we can premiere the film next year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\u201cBehind the Rain\u201d is produced by Rodr\u00edguez\u2019s label Poetastros. The Karlovy Vary Film Festival runs July 3-11.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=3831\">Netflix\u2019s \u2018Little House on the Prairie\u2019 Is a Charming Reimagining of Laura Ingalls Wilder\u2019s Beloved Adventure: TV Review<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Renowned Chilean filmmaker Valeria Sarmiento talks childhood sexual abuse drama &#8216;Behind the Rain,&#8217; currently restoring Ra\u00fal Ruiz&#8217;s &#8216;La Colonia Penal.&#8217;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3141,1438,3142],"class_list":["post-3837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-film","tag-behind-the-rain","tag-karlovy-vary-film-festival-2","tag-valeria-sarmiento"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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