Meritxell Colell Debuts Far From the Trees at Locarno
Meritxell Colell Explores Memory and Language in 'Far From the Trees' at Locarno
SOUND OF MEMORY IN PERU
Illustration concept: A realistic cinematic wide shot of a female audio engineer carrying sound equipment through a misty Amazon rainforest, professional dramatic cinema lighting, 8k resolution
AI summary
Director Meritxell Colell has debuted her latest feature film, 'Far From the Trees' ('Lejos de los árboles'), in competition at the Locarno Film Festival. The multi-national co-production follows a Mexican sound artist capturing endangered languages across Peru.
Why this matters
The project underscores the critical role cinema and sound design play in documenting rapidly vanishing indigenous languages. Its spot in Locarno's main competition highlights international backing for art-house cinema focused on cultural preservation.
Key takeaways
- Meritxell Colell's film 'Far From the Trees' premiered in competition at the Locarno Film Festival.
- The drama is a joint production across Spain, Italy, and Peru through Allegra Films.
- The plot centers on a sound artist recording endangered native languages across Peru.
- The movie focuses on sound and listening as central mechanisms for preserving collective memory.
Filmmaker Meritxell Colell has introduced her new cinematic project, "Far From the Trees" ("Lejos de los árboles"), in the international competition lineup at the Locarno Film Festival, according to reports from Variety. The tri-nation drama represents a collaboration between production teams in Spain, Italy, and Peru, led by Allegra Films.
The narrative centers on Adela, a 50-year-old Mexican sound artist who undertakes an exploratory journey across Peru. Moving from the dense Amazonian rainforest to the high-altitude Andean mountain ranges accompanied by a guide, she sets out to record and safeguard threatened native languages before they fade away.
Through its emphasis on acoustic field recordings, the feature asks audiences to prioritize attentive listening over immediate analysis. Colell utilizes the main character's journey to build an auditory archive around themes of displacement, exile, and collective cultural heritage.
By uniting partners across continents to document delicate vocal traditions, "Far From the Trees" illustrates how modern international cinema can act as a vehicle for preserving intangible global heritage.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the plot of 'Far From the Trees'?
- The film follows Adela, a 50-year-old sound artist from Mexico, as she travels through the Peruvian jungle and the Andes recording endangered languages.
- Where did 'Far From the Trees' make its debut?
- The feature made its world premiere in the international competition section at the Locarno Film Festival.
- Which countries collaborated on the film's production?
- The feature film is a co-production between Spain, Italy, and Peru, produced by Allegra Films.
Source & transparency
- By:
- The Reviser Desk
- Source:
- Variety
- Original publication:
- Aug 13, 2026, 5:22 AM
- The Reviser publication:
- Aug 13, 2026, 5:22 AM
- Updated:
- Aug 13, 2026, 5:31 AM
This report was independently written by The Reviser editorial desk from verified source material. It is not original on-the-ground reporting by The Reviser.
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