Petit mal

Three is one too many? Not so for filmmaker Laia, editor Martina and singer Anto, who live in a passionate polyamorous relationship in Colombia. The three artists are happy in their "ménage-à-trois" when Laia moves abroad for a long-term professional project. The trio become a temporary couple - and suddenly the whole threesome not only seems to be turned upside down, but also put to the test. Martina and Anto, who previously orbited around Laia like two satellites, now have to face up to their own relationship. Jealousy, loneliness and longing: The two women try to fathom their growing feelings anew. "I am one of three and yet I am alone," sings Anto in a song she wrote herself. But will it stay that way? And are three really one too many in the end or are three together stronger than two? This semi-autobiographical romantic drama by Ruth Caudeli ("Eva and Candela") follows the exciting dynamics of an unusual relationship constellation: the women get closer to each other, grow apart again and each react in their own way to the painful absence of an important part of their relationship construct. "Filmed during the pandemic, Petit Mal is a pandemic-era movie done right. The action takes place largely within the confines of their gorgeous home, but the single-location setting never feels restrictive or repetitive. Caudeli keeps the focus squarely on Laia, Anto and Martina — mostly the latter two as they deal with the loneliness together. Otálora and Varón craft compelling and complex women whose difficulty opening up to someone they’ve been with for a long time feels believable and real. There’s little place for melodrama in Caudeli’s script, which creates space to explore their internal worlds. No need for external problems when the conflicts are so clear and so effectively conveyed." (Evan Dossey, auf: midwestfilmjournal.com)