Virus Tropical

An alleged tropical virus turns out to be a pregnancy – in 1976, Paola is born into an Ecuadorian middle-class family as the third daughter. At an early age, Paola discovers that not everything in life can be controlled. Her ears are pierced when she is a baby, her father abandons the family, she has difficulty making friends in the new school, and her two older sisters are growing up more quickly than Paola would like. Women govern the household, her clothes, and her friends. But Paola also wishes to have men in her environment and cries for self-determination. Her life is shaped by both the ordinary and chaotic changes experienced by an adolescent girl. With frenzied leaps in time, “Virus Tropical” explores growing up between Ecuador and Columbia, between mother and father, between two very different sisters. The film portrays various regions and numerous encounters. Although unfulfillable dreams, painful losses, bitter disappointments and joyous love are all part of life, Paola also knows that she has to struggle for her independence and is prepared to take on the world’s challenges.
Santiago Caicedo’s debut feature film is based on the artist Power Paola’s autobiographical graphic novel. The black-and-white line drawings portray her journey from a normal girl to an independent woman in buzzing Latin America. The coming-of-age film has been screened at numerous renowned international festivals in Berlin, Buenos Aires and Annecy, among others, and honoured with multiple Audience Awards. (km)