Chile, 1955. The case of María Carolina Geel, a popular writer who murders her lover, captivates Mercedes, a shy secretary working for the judge assigned to defend the accused.Chile, 1955. The case of María Carolina Geel, a popular writer who murders her lover, captivates Mercedes, a shy secretary working for the judge assigned to defend the accused.Chile, 1955. The case of María Carolina Geel, a popular writer who murders her lover, captivates Mercedes, a shy secretary working for the judge assigned to defend the accused.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 5 nominations total
Nicolás Zárate
- Arnés
- (as Nicolás Zarate)
Featured reviews
Bad acting, bad direction, bad script, bad music... best to skip it. Maite is a great documentary filmmaker. All of his work reflects this. However, my intuition told me that this fiction film would not be good and, unfortunately, the film proved me right. Maite is a great documentary filmmaker. All of his work reflects this. However, my intuition told me that this fictional film would not be good and, unfortunately, the film proved me right. It's a potpourri for no reason. To the production I ask why did they choose such a bad casting? I'm really impressed that an Oscar-nominated director and crew would do such a lowly job.
Granted the good idea behind it and the nod to Maria Luisa Bombal.
Granted the good idea behind it and the nod to Maria Luisa Bombal.
A very beautiful movie about the burdens and exhaustions of women, the woman searching for herself and finding it in peace and privacy.
When a woman finds a place for herself to elevate herself and live her own time, it becomes a refuge, as she said, "I am tired of the noise. I want some peace." Stories always present some kind of female role that focuses on motherhood or maturity. You have not found a film like this about the desire for peace and tranquility and the restoration of the soul. I loved it and wanted it very much.
A very wonderful and very calm movie that touched me deeply and I believe that the story has roots or is an adaptation of a previous story.
A wonderful, wonderful, very nice movie.
When a woman finds a place for herself to elevate herself and live her own time, it becomes a refuge, as she said, "I am tired of the noise. I want some peace." Stories always present some kind of female role that focuses on motherhood or maturity. You have not found a film like this about the desire for peace and tranquility and the restoration of the soul. I loved it and wanted it very much.
A very wonderful and very calm movie that touched me deeply and I believe that the story has roots or is an adaptation of a previous story.
A wonderful, wonderful, very nice movie.
Even the Chilean national poet Gabriela MISTRAL (1889 - 1957), who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1945, stood up for her convicted fellow writer.
In 1955, a sensational scandal occurred in Santiago de Chile. In the Hotel Crillon, the writer Maria Carolina Geel (Francisca LEWIN) shot her lover out of the blue. By chance, the court clerk Mercedes Arevalo (Elisa ZULUETA), who works for the investigating judge, comes into contact with this case. It turns out that she receives the keys to the defendant's luxurious apartment. This opens up a new world for the inconspicuous Mercedes, who is not taken entirely seriously by her husband (Pablo MACAYA) and two sons. Surrounded by beautiful things and in heavenly peace, Mercedes begins to rethink her own life and consider new horizons possible.
A quiet and beautiful narrative film from Chile, which is somewhat reminiscent of the Italian blockbuster TOMORROW IS ALSO ANOTHER DAY / C E ANCORA DOMANI by and starring Paola CORTELLESI. EL LUGAR DE LA OTRA by Maite ALBERDI was selected by Chile as a candidate for the OSCAR for Best International Film.
In 1955, a sensational scandal occurred in Santiago de Chile. In the Hotel Crillon, the writer Maria Carolina Geel (Francisca LEWIN) shot her lover out of the blue. By chance, the court clerk Mercedes Arevalo (Elisa ZULUETA), who works for the investigating judge, comes into contact with this case. It turns out that she receives the keys to the defendant's luxurious apartment. This opens up a new world for the inconspicuous Mercedes, who is not taken entirely seriously by her husband (Pablo MACAYA) and two sons. Surrounded by beautiful things and in heavenly peace, Mercedes begins to rethink her own life and consider new horizons possible.
A quiet and beautiful narrative film from Chile, which is somewhat reminiscent of the Italian blockbuster TOMORROW IS ALSO ANOTHER DAY / C E ANCORA DOMANI by and starring Paola CORTELLESI. EL LUGAR DE LA OTRA by Maite ALBERDI was selected by Chile as a candidate for the OSCAR for Best International Film.
As chilean I felt so proud of this movie. The story is factual and accurate (except for the main character, that is). The author and the book are one of our dear readings, so I felt moved, and prompt to learn more about the background. Little did I know about Maria Carolina Geel and her own deeds at the time, and how Gabriela Mistral gave her a hand to set her free. Same as in the film, I don't believe that any woman close to the culture can feel uninvited somehow, and being dragged to experience a bit of the same sorority . The movie is pleasure to watch, well written and narrated; calm and introspective. Some criticism can be harsh, but quite real and again, accurate. At some point, there was a fight inside of me with the main character, but I couldn't help being absorbed by a recurrent call for compassion that leaves so much space for self expression. Many arguments were constructed subtlety, yet that wasn't the true intention. Not even the main trigger was relevant. The movie moves on a different layer, far from the mainstream. If you are looking for an experience rather than mere entertainment, this might be your option.
We've got plenty of feminist work in cinema but this story of intruding takes an honest look at the past. It reminds us how social immobility and income inequality is as old as gender disparity. While we celebrate what was allowed to us the question remains as to what happened to the other two battle fronts. While confinement become a home away for one, The other gets pushed into squatting and ideologically they cross paths to shed one layer of shackles. Flawless acting by the cast. Great cinematography and music. El Luga De La Otra is a radical movie that reminds both women and men of unfinished business.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOfficial submission of Chile for the 'Best International Feature Film' category of the 97th Academy Awards in 2025.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Expertas en nada: RETORNO (2023)
- SoundtracksEl Merecumbe
Written by Francisco Galán Blanco
Performed by Orquesta Huambaly
Courtesy of Universal Music Chile S.A.
(P) 1957 EMI Odeón Chilena S.A.
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- El lugar de la otra
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 36 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
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