An old couple living in the Andes highlands of Bolivia raise llamas. One day they are visited by their grandson. Locals have started to abandon the drought-stricken village, but the couple stubbornly sticks to traditional lifestyle and waits for the rain to bless the earth. Long, unhurried shots of the dried-up lands, close-ups of wrinkled hands and solemn expressions, rasping coughs and heavy breathing fill the screen. Nobody talks about it, but it is evident that everybody is facing the relentless advance of climate change. The beauty of Alejandro Loayza Grisi’s debut feature is that it is not a harsh depiction of gloom and doom. Instead he chooses to cast non-professional actors and a real-life couple, to create a portrayal of their simple life and genuine affection. There is a delicate sadness, like the belated mourning of the loss we never knew until it was gone. (Karen PARK)