Written by Chadd Clubine

Leonora in the Morning Light is a new film that premiered last month at the Guadalajara International Film Festival & Filmfest München. Written & directed by Thor Klein & Lena Vurma, the film stars Olivia Vinall, Alexander Scheer, Cassandra Ciangherotti and Luis Gerardo Méndez. Leonora Carrington, an outstanding figure of surrealism, along with Frida Kahlo, was one of Mexico’s most famous painters. As the long-time partner of Max Ernst and close friend of André Breton and Jean Miró, she continually struggles with her visionary imagination, which often triggers serious psychological crises.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved watching foreign films. It all probably started when I saw City of God in high school. Since then, it feels like the only way to grab the attention of a mass audience with foreign films is if it gets rave reviews or awards recognition. Otherwise, they tend to fall by the wayside. I don’t know what compelled me when I saw this come through in my emails. For about a month, I didn’t request it due to how busy I was. With my luck, I was granted access to it a month after it premiered. As soon as it becomes available, watch it ASAP.

I normally try to not let my reviews be swayed by what people are already saying. It’s one of the reasons I like to go in knowing nothing at all and reading more about people have to say later on. I came across this by accident and saw the rave reviews the film was getting. I tried my best to find something to critique on, and I found nothing. This is a flawless film surrounded by superb direction, excellent performances, and breathtaking visuals.

It’s surprising how much this film works when it’s about 100-minutes long. Biopics typically run longer, which doesn’t bother me. Films need to be however long they need to be to tell the story right. The film sort of throws you into the story right away where we have an idea as to who Leonora is, but the film intentionally hides who she is and where she comes from, making her a mysterious individual. As the film progresses, you begin to learn that it has a three-act structure, each having its own divine purpose of the overall film where each act coincide with each other.

One of the reasons I tend to love international films as an American is how authentic & relatable are. You can just see the hard work everyone is putting into this to make it feel something that speaks directly to the audience. While most of the film is incredibly authentic, the second act uses a unique storytelling device that helps us understand more of where Leonora came from, why she is the way she is, and what exactly her mindset is. Utilizing this kind of device allows the film to say more by only using it in the second act. By the time, we reach the third act, we all understand Leonora better. The film no longer needs to hold our hand through what she’s going through as we already know.

The direction from Thor Klein & Lena Vurma helps give the film its own identity while bringing out the amazing performances from everyone involved. Olivia Vinall isn’t just giving the performance of a lifetime, she is currently giving the best performance from an actress this year. One that I strongly believe will be able to top. She fully becomes Leonora Carrington from the languages she speaks to the her actions. It’s a role that shouldn’t go unnoticed, which is why I hope this film gets a proper distribution worldwide. Along with Vinall are the incredible supporting performances around her that all serve a purpose by pushing her character forward.

Saying that the visuals are breathtaking might be an understatement. Based off some of the imagery I saw beforehand, I don’t think it fully amount to the experience I felt as the camera panned around the scenery. Much like who Leonora was, the cinematography evokes a very specific artistic style, making every scene look like an art piece. Getting the camera in the specific locations they put it in had to have been a challenge. Another great reason why more people need to see this.

The film’s events occur almost a century before present day. There are some shocking revelations about that time period that continue to feel relevant today, making this a timeless classic. With a 100-minute runtime, the structure highlights important moments in Leonora’s life. Even at that runtime, the film still feels like the perfect length. As someone who appreciates art, learning more about this figure felt like I was given a behind-the-scenes tour of someone who continues to have an impact today for other artists.

Overall, Leonora in the Morning Light is the perfect title for a perfect movie where we are given a transparent look into someone’s life. Olivia Vinall gives one of, if not, the best performance from an actress this year. The direction from Thor Klein & Lena Vurma helps bring out the incredible performances while authentically telling her story. The cinematography is beautiful. They don’t typically make biopics like this, making this film one you absolutely need to see as soon as possible.

VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)