Naian González Norvind (Ariela) and Christian Vázquez (Iván)

This opera prima by first time director Isaac Cherem, has won the Best Debut Feature Award at the 2019 UK Jewish Film Festival, the Feature Film Competition at the Morelia International Film Festival and Best Feature at the 2019 Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival as well as attracting a number of nominations. Written by the Director together with the lead actress Naian González Norvind, the film, set in contemporary Mexico, focusses on twenty-five year old Ariela, (played by Naian González Norvind), an independent spirit who works as a mural painter.

  Christian Vázquez as Iván

She is swept off her feet by the charming non-Jewish Iván (Christian Vázquez) and faces a harsh struggle with her extended family and the Syrian Jewish community who disapprove of the relationship, not least her own mother (Carolina Poloti).   All the time, there is a claustrophobic pressure on her to conform and get married, like her friends.  ‘Suitable’ candidates are thrown at her from all sides, so that Ariela is torn between the man she loves and her community.

Naian González Norvind as Ariela 

These are communities that were created by refugees fleeing persecution and war and they learned to help one another and work together to improve their lives and status in their adopted country. Ariela represents a threat to this cohesion. Not wanting to cause pain to her family, Ariela tries, but realizes that first, she must learn to understand and respect her own needs and wishes. This is a ‘mature’ coming of age film about having the courage to be true to yourself.  

The talented Naian González Norvind (who won the Best Actress award at the Morelia International Film festival 2018) emerged from a family steeped in theatre and film. A violinist as well as a stage and film actress, she is the granddaughter of well-known Norwegian -Mexican actress Eva Norvind, daughter of actress Nailea Norvind and both her sisters Tessa Ía, and Camila Sodi are also actors. Quite a dynasty!  González Norvind is also known for her work in Everybody’s got Somebody… Not me (2012), Gothem (2014), Lluvia de Luna (Moon rain) and the TV Series Blue Bloods (2015-2018).   

Jacobo Rudman as the Rabbi

In ‘Leona’, González Norvind expresses a sultry, seductive quality that mixes with a feeling of vulnerability, as she fights her desires  in her search for independence, identity, freedom, and the right to paint her murals without being judged.

 The film is a confident debut feature, nicely shot by cinematographer Diana Garay (Walking Distance 2015, El Mundo Real TV series 2019). There is a fine feeling of intimacy that closes in on Ariela’s mix of strength and vulnerability.  Garay’s camera  captures the eroticism and sensuality of her situations as Ariela explores her emotions, neatly complemented by the score of Jacobo Lieberman, also known for his work on Frida (2002) and a number of shorts, documentaries and TV series. There is a languid slow burn atmosphere  to the score that fits in with the story, as Ariela negotiates her way around the pressures that come to bear on her.    The Jewish community threatens to throw her out and Ivan and his friends tease her about her ‘different’ attitudes, so that she begins to feel that she does not fit anywhere. She must decide.

Leona (2018) is on at the JW3 cinema till Feb 29th 2020 / 341-351 Finchley Road NW3 6ET

LEONA (2018)

Director              Isaac Cherem

Writers               Isaac Cherem and Naian González Norvind

DOP                     Diana Garay

Music                  Jacobo Lieberman

Production         Salomon Askenazi, Isaac Cherem

Cast                     Naian González Norvind / Christian Vázquez / Carolina Politi/ Jacobo Rudman/ Margarita Sanz, Daniel Adissi.