Sebastián Lelio, born in 1974, is a prominent figure in Chilean cinema, joining the ranks of esteemed filmmakers such as Pablo Larraín, Andrés Wood, and a few others, who have contributed significantly to the post-dictatorship era's cinematic landscape.
After graduating from the prestigious Escuela de Cine de Chile in Santiago, Lelio began his career by crafting a series of thought-provoking shorts, five of which were released between 1995 and 2003, accompanied by a documentary. This early work laid the foundation for his future endeavors.
From 2005 onwards, Lelio directed a quartet of feature films that garnered widespread critical acclaim and numerous awards within the festival circuit. His initial three films were characterized by their dark and intense themes, whereas his fourth film, released somewhat later, took a slightly more optimistic tone.
The Sacred Family (2005) is often regarded as a Chilean adaptation of Pier Paolo Pasolini's 1968 masterpiece, Teorema. This was followed by Navidad (2009),a drama that explores the lives of three alienated teenagers struggling to connect with their families. The Year of the Tiger (2011) recounts the harrowing story of an inmate's escape during Chile's 2010 earthquake.
Following this trilogy of intense films, Gloria (2013) stood out for its more peaceful and serene tone. The film chronicles the romantic escapades of a sixty-year-old office worker in Santiago, navigating the complexities of her personal life, although not without encountering tensions and bitterness. While Lelio's films may oscillate between darkness and light, they all share a profound understanding of modern Chilean society.
