Entertainment: Festivals: The Currents (2025) by Milagros Mumenthaler: The Lingering Aftermath of an Impulsive Act

A Psychological Drama of Trapped EmotionsThe Currents (Original title: Las Corrientes) is a 2025 psychological drama film from director Milagros Mumenthaler. The film centers on Lina, an Argentine artist and designer, whose impulsive leap into a river in Geneva sets off a chain reaction in her seemingly perfect life back in Buenos Aires. As she attempts to bury the incident and her past, the film explores the psychological aftermath of her decision and how past trauma resurfaces to threaten her present. The movie is known for its quiet, visually driven storytelling and is an official selection at several prestigious film festivals.

Why to Watch This Movie: A Deeply Human and Visually Stunning Film

• Thought-Provoking Story: The film is a complex and subtle character study on fear, trauma, and the human psyche. It is not a straightforward narrative but rather a slow-burn exploration of Lina's internal struggles.

• Brilliant Lead Performance: Critics have praised Isabel Aimé González-Sola's performance as Lina, describing her portrayal of a woman consumed by fear and anxiety as captivating and brilliant. The film relies heavily on her performance to convey the protagonist's emotional state, and she is said to carry the movie with great skill.

• Masterful Direction: Director Milagros Mumenthaler, known for her lyrical style, uses a quiet, patient approach with long shots and minimal dialogue. She cleverly uses visual metaphors, such as water and light, to get the film’s message across. The film's aesthetic has been compared to the likes of Michelangelo Antonioni.

• Festival Acclaim: The film has been nominated for prestigious awards at major international film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival's Platform Award and the San Sebastián International Film Festival's Golden Seashell for Best Film.

Where to watch (industry professionals): https://pro.festivalscope.com/film/the-currents

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35746682/awards/?ref_=tt_awd

Link Review: https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/483623

About movie: https://luxboxfilms.com/the-currents/

What Trend is Followed?: The Art-House Character Study

The Currents is a perfect example of the "art-house character study" trend. This trend in international cinema prioritizes the intricate exploration of a single character's internal world over a conventional plot.

• Focus on Psychology: These films often use a non-linear or ambiguous narrative to delve into the protagonist's psyche, inviting the audience to interpret their motivations and emotional state.

• Visual Storytelling: Dialogue is often sparse, with the narrative carried by powerful visuals, long takes, and a meticulously crafted atmosphere. This cinematic style requires patience from the audience but can lead to a more profound and immersive experience.

• Festival Circuit: These films are typically produced by independent companies and find their audience through film festivals, where they are celebrated for their artistic ambition and strong directorial vision.

Director's Vision: The Subtlety of Internal Conflict

• A Non-Linear Narrative: Director Milagros Mumenthaler's vision is to tell a story that is not entirely linear, focusing instead on a "collage of slightly related events." This approach captures the fractured nature of Lina's mental state.

• Ambiguity over Explanation: Mumenthaler deliberately leaves much of the protagonist's trauma and motivations ambiguous, allowing the film to "live and breathe in the ambiguities of Lina's malaise and dissatisfaction."

• Representing Intimacy: Her vision is to use cinematic language to represent the intimate, internal world of her protagonist, a challenge often reserved for literature. She used works by Siri Hustvedt and Virginia Woolf as inspiration to translate Lina's consciousness to the screen.

• Visually Striking: She collaborates with cinematographer Gabriel Sandru to create a visually striking film with rich colors and a sense of unease, with some shots paying homage to Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo.

Themes: Memory, Trauma, and Reconnection

• Trauma and its Aftermath: The film's central theme is how an unaddressed, buried trauma can resurface and disrupt a seemingly stable life. Lina's impulsive decision in Geneva acts as a catalyst for her to confront her long-buried past.

• The Body and The Mind: The story explores the complex relationship between physical and mental well-being. Lina's sudden phobia of water is a physical manifestation of her internal, psychological distress.

• The Past and The Present: The film delves into the tension between the person Lina has become (a successful artist and mother) and the person she was, and how her attempts to bury her origins make it difficult for her to be truly present.

Key Success Factors: A Strong Creative Team and a Beloved Original

• Isabel Aimé González-Sola's Performance: The film's success is largely credited to the compelling lead performance, which carries the emotional weight of the narrative and draws the audience into Lina's world.

• Milagros Mumenthaler's Direction: Her unique and patient directorial style has been a major draw for critics and festival programmers. Her commitment to a clear artistic vision is a key factor in the film's acclaim.

• A High-Concept Premise: The idea of an "unexplainable" impulsive act with far-reaching consequences is a compelling hook that differentiates the film from a straightforward drama.

• Prestigious Festival Nominations: The nominations from the Toronto International Film Festival and San Sebastián International Film Festival lend the film significant credibility and buzz, attracting a discerning art-house audience.

Awards and Nominations: A Promising Festival Run

The Currents has received 3 nominations at major international film festivals. It was nominated for the Golden Seashell for Best Film and the RTVE-Otra Mirada Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and for the Platform Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Critics Reception: A Lyrical and Ambiguous Portrait

• The Hollywood Reporter: Praised the film as a "lusciously crafted Argentinian spellbinder" that effectively charts a woman's emotional journey.

• Loud And Clear Reviews: Found the film to be an "ambiguous drama" that relies on a loose narrative, though it praised Isabel Aimé González-Sola's "exceptional acting." The review, however, found some of the film's stylistic choices and lack of clarity to be inconsistent.

• The Film Verdict: Praised the film's inventive and lyrical style, particularly its gorgeous opening and third act, but noted a disappointment that the film eventually "tips its hand toward a more ordinary domestic drama" with an "anodyne explanation" for Lina's existential crisis.

• Overall Summary: Critics are impressed with the film's artistic ambition and Isabel Aimé González-Sola's lead performance. The reviews are mixed on its narrative ambiguity, with some finding it a compelling artistic choice and others finding it muddled or inconsistent.

Reviews: Positive but Limited

• IMDb: The film has a single user review on IMDb with a perfect rating of 10. The user praises the film for its "thought-provoking story on fear, trauma, and psychology" and its "gorgeously done" visuals. They highlight the use of long shots and a slower pace to get the message across, and praise the lead actress’s performance.

• Overall Summary: With only one user review, the overall audience reception is not yet fully formed. However, the existing review is overwhelmingly positive and echoes the sentiments of the film's critical acclaim.

Release Dates

• Theatrical Release: November 13, 2025 (Argentina).

• Release date on streaming: Information is not yet available.

What Movie Trend film is following: The New Latin American Cinema

The film is a part of the New Latin American Cinema movement, which focuses on personal and political stories told through a distinctive, often quiet and observational, cinematic style.

• This trend prioritizes character studies and social commentary over conventional genre narratives.

• The film's co-production between Argentina and Switzerland, as well as its presence at major European film festivals, highlights its place within this international and artistically ambitious movement.

What Big Social Trend is following: Mental Health Awareness in Media

The film is following the social trend of increased mental health awareness in media.

• It portrays a protagonist's struggles with anxiety, depression, and trauma in a nuanced and non-sensational way.

• The film's exploration of Lina's internal breakdown and her phobias speaks to a growing willingness in society to discuss and represent mental health issues in a complex and authentic manner.

Final Verdict: A Cinematic and Emotionally Rich Character Study

The Currents is an ambitious and well-crafted psychological drama that stands out for its artistic vision and a powerful central performance. While its non-traditional narrative and focus on ambiguity may not appeal to all audiences, it has been widely praised by critics and festival programmers for its lyrical beauty and emotional depth. It is a must-watch for fans of international art-house cinema and a promising entry in the Latin American cinematic landscape.