In a bustling Mexican home, seven-year-old Sol spends the day at her grandfather’s house, helping with the preparations for a surprise party for her father. As the day goes on, Sol gradually grasps the significance of this particular celebration. Mexican filmmaker Lila Avilés’ touching drama, following her acclaimed debut The Chambermaid, unfolds as an emotional portrayal of family upheavals told through the eyes of a child.

Reviews

‘Tótem is exquisite – a vital ensemble drama that’s suffused with joy and love…It’s a picture that cements Avilés as one of the brightest talents in a new wave of female Mexican directors’
★★★★★
Wendy Ide, The Observer

‘Tótem is a film of unexpected beauty, using its main character as a conduit for exploring the quandaries of a family navigating matters of love, heartbreak, class, innocence, and, perhaps most prominently, mortality.’
★★★★
Greg Nussen, Slant Magazine