Argentine filmmaker Lucila Mariani presents her debut feature film The Days Off at the 79th Locarno Film Festival. The story centers on 12-year-old Bego during an endless summer as she grapples with the transition into adolescence. Set against the backdrop of an approaching solar eclipse, the narrative follows Bego as she connects with an online friend named REN.
Through this digital connection, Bego encounters the practice of shifting. Teenagers in the film believe they access alternative realities through lucid dreaming. The film moves between these internal experiences and the tangible world of her family life. It serves as a visual exploration of how virtual spaces impact young people.
Mariani describes the project as a personal reflection on her own upbringing. She draws from her history with the internet as a tool for connection and discovery in Argentina. The director highlights how early digital spaces provided a sanctuary for those who did not fit into traditional social circles. She views the film as a tribute to an era of the web that is currently fading away.
International production involves partners from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and France. The cast includes Antonia Robolini, Luiza Quinteiro, Laura Paredes, and Guillermo Berthold. Inwave Films manages international sales. The film competes in the Filmmakers of the Present category starting August 7. It stands as a study of female identity and the influence of early digital culture.