PETIT MAL

(director/writer: Ruth Caudeli; cinematographer: Andres Botero; Fabio Chaves; cast: Silvia Varon (Martina), Ruth Caudeli (Laia), Ana Maria Otalora (Anto); Runtime: 89; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Sara Larrota/Ruth Caudeli/Silvia Varon; Dark Star Pictures; 2022-Colombia-in Spanish with English subtitles)

“Study of queer throuples.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Ruth Caudeli (“Eva + Candela”/”Second Star on the Right”) is a firmer actress and queer director from Spain. Her film is shot in both B/W and color. The indie film has a cast of three attractive women in their late twenties and early thirties, Laia (Ruth Caudeli, also the director), Martina (Silvia Varon) and Anto (Ana Maria Otalora), who are old friends who try to stay together in a house in rural Colombia, with five dogs, and not drift apart as they try to connect in a lesbian relationship. The gals sleep together in the same bed.

All’s well until Laia, their leader, accepts a job offer to direct a film in Europe for a few months. The atmosphere changes, as they must deal with her absence and the loneliness it brings.

It lacks character development and the plot is slight. Its intense study of queer throuples and how they may connect in long-term relationships is, however, interesting.

It’s a queer relationship film that might be fiction but, nevertheless, mirrors real-life.

It played at Tribeca.

REVIEWED ON 2/5/2023  GRADE: B