The Sharks

In a small coastal town in Uruguay, where rumors of shark sightings are circulating, 14-year-old Rosina is spending her summer. Her father forces her to work in his landscaping business to bring her to her senses. There she develops a fascination for her older colleague Joselo. Rosina, played by newcomer Romina Bentancur, is an introverted teenager whose inner turmoil manifests itself in quiet observations and subtle advances. The rumors about sharks in the water mirror her own burgeoning feelings and insecurities. Director Lucía Garibaldi stages this coming-of-age story with a mixture of restraint and intensity that immerses the viewer deeply in Rosina's world. THE SHARKS (Los tiburones, 2019) premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, where Garibaldi won the award for Best Director. The film also won the Films in Progress Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and received the Grand Prix Coup de Cœur at the Toulouse Latin America Film Festival. Germán Nocella's cinematography captures the summer atmosphere of the coastal town, while Miguel Recalde's music underscores the emotional depth of the story. Romina Bentancur's performance has been particularly praised for its authenticity and nuance.