The grass is always greener on the other side, and it’s easy to imagine that things might be better if only something was different. Natalia Santa’s sophomore feature Malta, which makes its world premiere at SXSW, follows a woman named Mariana (Estefanía Piñeres) who is looking to get away from her life in Bogotá, Colombia and has become fixated on the island of Malta as somewhere she could be free from it all. Unfortunately for her, she’s not headed anywhere with any particular urgency…
Mariana can see the things that have trapped her family members in a life that she doesn’t want. She doesn’t have a good relationship with her mother, and her brother has become stuck due to an unexpected pregnancy he hasn’t properly taken ownership of, causing him and anyone in his orbit considerable strife. Mariana is still exploring who she wants to be, and begins a romance with someone who first asks her out by making up that he has made a bet with his friends that she would say yes. Initially resistant, she soon decides to go for it while simultaneously pursuing another ill-fated relationship that she should probably know from the outset isn’t a good idea.
Piñeres anchors this film with a memorable performance, one that mixes subdued humor with a seriousness about her situation that she doesn’t find at all amusing. Running ninety-seven minutes, this film isn’t packed full of action but instead stays tightly focused on its protagonist and her questionable - and occasionally respectable - choices. The argument that less is sometimes more is certainly true in this case, as Mariana’s journey feels magnetic and captivating without the need for excessive fanfare or startling plot twists.
The film’s title also serves as a universal stand-in for elusive yearning, something that feels just far enough away that it’s out of reach. Mariana is able to do some considerable research about her ideal destination, and she brings it up unprompted throughout the film as a way of hanging on to the idea. It’s a helpful tentpole for something that’s not necessarily unachievable but which feels like it is, a strong motivator for anyone to break free of a mundane cycle devoid of excitement. B+
Malta makes its world premiere in the Global section at the 2024 SXSW Film and TV Festival.