Linda

For her feature-length debut, Argentinian writer-director Mariana Wainstein (whose credits include TV series such as Community Squad) turns the South American story of the mythical Deceased Correa upside down with compelling results. Legend has it that Deolinda Correa died crossing the desert, baby in tow, in search of her husband who was recruited by force to join the civil war. When some horsemen found her body days later, her baby was still alive, feeding miraculously from her breast. Today, thousands of visitors from across Latin America visit the shrine built in her honour in the town of Vallecito hoping for a miracle of their own.

Self-assured, mysterious, and captivating Linda (China Suárez) agrees to work at an affluent home in Buenos Aires, covering for her cousin who’s recovering from an accident. Her charm sparks strong sexual attraction among all four members of the family, exposing how fragile their externally happy veneer really is.

Turning away from grand gestures, the narrative drills on the mundane to explore Linda's shattering of the male egos involved — all the advances by the men are almost cruelly curtailed — as well as the power dynamic between the female employer and the “help.” Focussing on female desire instead of sacrifice inverts the myth in a way that is deeply rewarding and a joy to watch.

DIANA CADAVID

Content advisory: mature themes, sexual innuendo