The Cambria Film Festival, running February 5-9, has given SLO Review the opportunity to preview many of the more than 80 full-length and short films that make up its 2025 program schedule. All-access passes, live screening only passes, and passes to view films virtually after the festival are available now.
An Unusual Coupling
In Reflections in a Room, Spanish director Ceres Machado presents a tightly choreographed film involving the surprised and surprising affection between two apparently different characters.
Berta (Adriana Ozores), a 50-something, wealthy, married-but-ignored wife meets Hugo, a 22-year-old hustler who unexpectedly stands in for her regular monthly paid escort Alberto (David Tortosa).
Hugo (Alejandro Vergara) is an unruly street kid, younger than Alberto, who is initially rejected by the mature yet lonely Berta. The film’s (almost) single set is a hotel room that Berta uses for her platonic meetings with her usual paid companion. Berta first rejects Hugo, but after combative conversations with Hugo, and after explaining her reasons for hiring an escort, she accepts him. Hugo softens at her story, then surprisingly expresses concern and care for Berta, leading to a single tryst.
The acting is strong in what is an implausible plot. Themes of a loveless marriage, of suicide, of mastectomies, gay prostitution, personality transformations, virginity, separations, and appeasements mix in this film of less than one-and-a-half hours.
Ozores is sad, angry, beautiful, and convincing in her portrayal of a lost and hurting older woman. Vergara performs well in what is a difficult to believe role. Tortosa acts simply as a prop in this hard to accept but well-acted, play-like film.
Reflections in a Room offers a well-performed, if improbable, May-December one night stand.
Screenings of Reflections in a Room(run time 71 minutes, in Spanish with English subtitles), sponsored by Ken Mora & Heidi Tuffas and Henry Showell & Ellie Etter, are at 10 a.m. Friday, February 7 and at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 8.