Nora's Will

Fernando Luján, Cecilia Suárez, Ari Brickman, Enrique Arreola, Verónica Langer

A master Machiavellian-style planner, an elderly woman named Nora has planned her death, down to the smallest detail. But even as she meticulously orchestrates the lives of those closest to her, most especially her ex-husband José, the contents of a mysterious photograph suggests other possibilities. Set in Mexico City's little-seen Jewish community, Nora's Will is both sweet and sad, and wonderfully textured. José, who lives right across the street from his ex-wife, is the first person to discover her body, after her meat delivery is diverted to his apartment. Despite being divorced for 20 years, José and Nora have kept close tabs on each other (via binoculars). Determined to finally escape her controlling ways, José sets out to deliberately unravel Nora's carefully laid edicts, mixing-up her instructions about the Passover dinner, ordering up a Catholic funeral service and searching for the truth behind the mysterious photograph.

As a diverse cast of characters, including Nora's myopic sister, her cantankerous housekeeper and a would-be rabbi begin to assemble in her apartment, things get decidedly more complicated. As much an exploration of the familial bonds of love and history as it is an examination of faith (or lack thereof in José's case) Mariana Chenillo's film packs a gentle comedic punch, leavened by a subtle, irresistible charm.

Winner, Audience Award, Miami 2009, Morelia 2009.