The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo

The year is 1984. We are in a mining town in Chile, an environment marked by stark contrasts. Here, hardened miners live side-by-side with a group of trans women who run a brothel. At the center is the glamorous Flamingo, and we see the community through the eyes of her 12-year-old adopted daughter, Lidia.

Rumors of a "plague" have spread through the local community, a disease that is killing both women and miners. The people are convinced that the infection is spread by looking deep into the eyes of a trans woman. The miners struggle to avoid their gaze.

The film is a subtle and quiet drama that explores family bonds and delves into the magical realism latent in Latin American cultures. It depicts love, heartbreak, and celebration, as well as the tragic victims of an oppressive culture. Through an interesting twist on the start of the AIDS epidemic, the spread of the disease is wrapped up in something supernatural, allowing myths and misinformation to take hold. This is a poetic film that explores identity, belonging, and emotional honesty. The film has received praise from critics, won the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes, and was selected as Chile's official Oscar candidate.