Southern District
(Zona sur)
Juan Carlos Valdivia | Drama, Fiction, Comedy, Romance
2011 | 109 minutes | Bolivia
Bolivia’s official entry for the Academy® Awards, this searing portrait of a patrician family in flux exposes the bubble of decadence in which they exist. The threat of shifting aristocratic privilege heralds a new era in a seemingly interminable class war.
Synopsis
La Paz’s Zona Sur neighborhood is Bolivia’s most exclusive enclave and has housed the country’s affluent elite for generations. In an adobe-tile-roofed castle, a statuesque matriarch reigns over her spoiled offspring and indigenous servants. But social change, however unwelcome, is on its way. As the mother squabbles with her self-indulgent, oversexed teenage son and clashes with her petulant daughter, her 6-year-old boy wanders the rooftops unsupervised. The scent of impending decline permeates the air, and the threat of shifting aristocratic privilege heralds a new era in a seemingly interminable class war. Bolivia’s official entry for the Academy® Awards, this searing portrait of a patrician family in flux exposes the bubble of decadence in which they exist. With outstanding cinematography, director Juan Carlos Valdivia elevates camerawork from a craft to the level of art.
Reviews
"Slow-paced and character driven, color plays a dramatic role in the background of this film. The façade of black and white with which the house is sumptuously decorated hides the fact that Carola can no longer afford her Beverly Hills-esque lifestyle. The family wears dazzling white almost exclusively until the reality of their changing situation hits them full-force and suddenly, everyone is wearing black. Human touch also figures in: early on, it's merely manipulative, but in the final moments, has the ability to offer true meaning and compassion...Southern District offers a dramatic picture of family dynamics in modern day South America. " — Sandra Collins, Byzantine Catholic Seminary Library, Pittsburgh, EMRO
"Zona Sur is, without a doubt, the most mature and personal movie of this filmmaker, who took his first steps on the complex road of full-length films fourteen long years ago." — Carlos D. Mesa Gisbert
"What this author has achieved is a cinematic work, which, although very personal, graphically portrays this mutating society." — Sergio de la Zerda, Laromona Magazine
"Zona Sur is a movie that has arrived to legitimize and bring Bolivian digital cinema to its apex...The most successful Bolivian cinematographic work in recent years." — Santiago Espinoza A.
"This magnificent production, a true work of art, could be interpreted as the epistle of a class in retirement, from which only nostalgia remains, between the pitiful melodies of an aristocratic piano and the whispers of a boy who one day wanted to fly." — Sergio Zapata, Fotogenia
Citation
Main credits
Valdivia, Juan Carlos (film director)
Valdivia, Juan Carlos (screenwriter)
Maire, Gabriela (film producer)
Castillo, Ninón del (actor)
Loayza, Pascual (actor)
Fernández, Nicolás (actor)
Koria, Juan Pablo (actor)
Other credits
Director of photography, Paul de Lumen; editor, Iván Layme; music, Cergio Prudencio.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Culture + Identity
Family
Gender + Sexuality Studies
Indigenous Peoples
Latin American Studies
Oscar® Contenders
Race + Ethnicity
Sociology
South America
Women
Youth
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Academy Awards® - Bolivia's submission for Best Foreign Language Film
Sundance Film Festival; Berlin Film Festival
Havana Film Festival
Huelva Latinoamerican Film Festival - Best Cinematography
Guadalajara International Film Festival
DIRECTOR: Juan Carlos Valdivia
NATIONALITY: Bolivia
YEAR: 2011
GENRE: Drama, Fiction, Comedy, Romance
LANGUAGE: Spanish; Aymara; Indigenous languages
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: College, Adults
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.
Related Films
Sun and Daughter
Cuidando al sol
Cerro Rico Tierra Rica
Cerro rico, tierra rica
The Three Roses
Las tres rosas
A World for Julius
Un mundo para Julius
Babygirl
La hembrita
At the Gates of Hell, Ep. 04 - On the Right Side of the Wall - Lima, Peru
Al otro lado del muro - Lima, Perú
You and Me
Tú y yo
A Decent Woman
Los decentes
La Paz
My Bolivia, Remembering What I Never Knew
Sealed Cargo
Carga sellada
Guie'dani's Navel
El Ombligo de Guie'dani (XQUIPI' GUIE'DANI)
The Visitor
El visitante
Crossing the Andes, Ep. 01 - The Man-Eating Mountain
La montaña come-hombres
Calladita
Unconscious Revealed
Inconscientes revelados
Cuernavaca
Yvy Maraey Land Without Evil
Yvy Maraey, tierra sin mal
Related Collections
Fiction Films
A compelling glimpse into Spain and Latin America's rich storytelling traditions, showcasing a blend of established directors and emerging voices. Each film highlights the depth and creativity of the region.
Number of titles: 275
SEE COLLECTION >Oscar® Submissions
Prepare for or relieve the biggest night in film by exploring some of Spain and Latin America's official submissions to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.
Number of titles: 14
SEE COLLECTION >Indigenous Languages
Promote the linguistic and cultural diversity of Latin America by exploring these indigenous languages!
Number of titles: 39
SEE COLLECTION >Spanish Language Films
A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.
Number of titles: 440
SEE COLLECTION >LGBTQ+
An insightful view into the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming community in Latin America and Spain.
Number of titles: 55
SEE COLLECTION >Indigenous Peoples
A valuable insight into the cultural and historical heritage of different indigenous communities.
Number of titles: 52
SEE COLLECTION >The Pragda Complete Film Collection
The essence of Spain and Latin America captured in their original language with English captions or subtitles.
Number of titles: 637
SEE COLLECTION >Our Essential 100 Titles
A hand-picked selection of our must-have films showcasing the very best of Spanish, Latin American and Latinx cinema.
Number of titles: 100
SEE COLLECTION >Cinema Studies
Independent, classic, experimental, risky, and transgressive films from Latin American that celebrate art of filmmaking.
Number of titles: 71
SEE COLLECTION >