Postcards from Leningrad

Postcards from Leningrad
Postcards from Leningrad
	Film poster
Directed by	Mariana Rondon
Written by	Mariana Rondon
Starring	Laureano Olivares; Greisy Mena
Distributed by	Sudaka Films
Release date	7 September 2007;
Country	Venezuela
Language	Spanish

Postcards from Leningrad, Spanish title: Postales de Leningrado) is a 2007 Venezuelan film, written and directed by Mariana Rondón. It is a drama about children growing up among guerrilla groups in the 1960s in Venezuela. It was Venezuela's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film of the 80th Academy Awards.

Plot

During the leftist uprising in the 1960s in Venezuela, a young guerrilla-girl, living in secrecy, gives birth to her first daughter during Mother's Day. Due to that, her photos appear on the newspaper, since that moment they would have to run away.

Hidden places, false disguises and names are the daily life of The Girl, the narrator of the story. Alongside her cousin (Teo), they re-live the adventures of their guerrilla parents, building up a labyrinth with superheroes and strategies, in which nobody knows where the reality (or madness) begins. However, this children's game does not hide the deaths, tortures, denunciations and treason within the guerrillas.

The kids want to convert themselves into The Invisible Man, in order to escape from the danger. However, they know that their parents might never comeback and therefore, they'll only receive Postcards from Leningrad.

Cast

Laureano Olivares as Teo
Greisy Mena as Marcela/Clara/Mercedes
William Cifuentes as Teo (Child)
Haydee Faverola as Grandmother
María Fernanda Ferro as Marta
Ignacio Marquez as Tio Miguel
Oswaldo Hidalgo as Grandfather
Claudia Usubillaga as The Girl

Awards and honors

Best Director (Rajatha Chakoram) at International Film Festival of Kerala(IFFK), 2008^[1]
Golden Sun Award at Biarritz International Festival of Latin American Cinema, 2007^[2]
Golden India Catalina Award for best film at Cartagena Film Festival, 2008^[2]
Feature Film Trophy for best film at Cine Ceara National Cinema Festival, 2008^[2]
International Jury Award (Revelation Category) at São Paulo International Film Festival, 2007^[2]