A frail mother and her estranged sister (Paola Lattus) reluctantly welcome their prodigal daughter Silvia (Patricia Cuyul) back home after a 30-year absence in “ Death Brought you Back ” (“La muerte te vio volver”), the debut film from rising Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Cuevas , selected for Sanfic Industria’s Ibero-American Works In Progress lineup.

In 2023, the film received financing from the Regional Audiovisual Fund and the Development Fund of the Audiovisual Fund of MINCAP, Chile after previously participating in film Labs in the region, including the Sanfic Lab, Lab Cinelebu and the 2nd CCC Co-Production Meeting, with mentorship from Christopher Murray and Jose Luis Torres Leiva.

Produced by Catalina Alarcón, in collaboration with Amanda Puga's Southern-Chilean production company Praxia and Santiago-based Mala Films, the script was co-written by Cuevas and Paula Armstrong. The narrative centers around the complex dynamics between siblings as they reunite to support their ailing mother.

“While pursuing my studies, my primary objective was to create a film that reflected my heritage and ancestry. Drawing inspiration from a poignant aspect of my family history that remained unspoken, I crafted a script that delved into this sensitive subject,” Cuevas shared with Variety .

The silence of relationships ignored for decades hangs heavily against a mystical and remote island backdrop. The location, an adversarial character in the film – its somber, hazy days rolling into tranquil, somewhat eerie nights. The tension between sisters is on full display, nothing to distract them except for their time spent smoking cigarettes or tending to the grounds.

“This is a sensitive and personal film that explores family secrets and the enduring pain of a family’s past. Filmed entirely in the southern region of Chile, on the island of Chiloé, our film aims to capture and preserve the evocative atmosphere, sensory experiences, and observational style that characterize the island and its inhabitants, “Alarcón shared.

Cuevas further elaborated: “I have always felt a profound connection to the Big Island of Chiloé. My thoughts, aspirations, and ambitions are deeply rooted there. I feel a strong sense of belonging to this island, and that served as the catalyst for telling this story.”

“Beyond wanting to explore its myths and legends-which is what almost everyone who films there aims to capture-I was interested in delving into the lives of its people, their fears and the loneliness many endure. These elements, combined with the island’s atmosphere and landscapes, inevitably elevate the story to a universal level through its themes,” he continued.

Silvia finds herself caught in a silent, suspended state, almost a stranger to the place she once knew. With her inheritance at stake, she grapples with her grief while navigating a complex past in this slow-burning journey towards reconciliation.

“I believe that everyone yearns to return home at some point in their life. We feel that longing to go back to the place where we were born and raised. Although it can be emotionally challenging, we must confront these feelings to close chapters and heal. It’s difficult because no one wants to face rejection or those anxieties that become traumatic experiences and burdens we carry throughout our lives,” Cuevas reflected.

“Currently, I’m working on a new film titled ‘Los susurros del viento del desierto,’ and I frequently revisit the place where I grew up; a humble, marginalized community on the outskirts of Santiago that I’m proud to call my own. Despite experiencing some of my deepest pains and fears there, I also have cherished memories, which brings me great joy,” he added.

In conclusion, “Returning home can happen in different ways, at different times, but the crucial aspect is that we make our way back.”