Original title: ‘The Ivy’ Tells of an Unexpected Bond, Unresolved Desire, and Trauma (Exclusive Venice Clip)
A connection formed between two outsiders from different social backgrounds and of different ages, which transcends trauma in a world that tries to exclude them, is at the heart of The Ivy (Hiedra), the third feature by Ecuadorian director Ana Cristina Barragán (Alba, La Piel Pulpo), which world premieres at Venice on Wednesday, Sept. 3. “Azucena, a woman in her 30s, approaches Julio, a teenage boy living in a group home, for reasons he doesn’t understand,” reads a synopsis. “As they spend time together, an uneasy closeness grows, changing the shape of a bond neither of them expected to find.” The two “are connected by a shared experience of trauma,” according to a description. “Together, they set out on a journey beyond the confines of a society that has never truly included them. With fearlessness and intimacy, the film explores the complexities of disordered, unresolved desire and intimate, often wordless relationships.” Starring Simone Bucio (The Untamed) and first-time actor Franc