Uruguayan Film Series in Toronto: Screening of “Anina”
The Consulate General of Uruguay in Toronto continues to sponsor and organize the cultural event known as the “Uruguayan Film Series at York University in Toronto,” in collaboration with the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at York University. In this regard, special recognition is due to Uruguayan academic Dr. María del Luján Figueredo, whose dedication, professional expertise, and logistical support have been instrumental in bringing this cultural initiative to fruition.
The event took place on the premises of the aforementioned educational institution. On Thursday, October 22, of this year, the animated film Anina, a beautiful Uruguayan production directed by Alfredo Soderguit, was screened.
One particularly special feature of the film is the name Anina. It is a palindrome, meaning that it reads exactly the same from left to right as it does from right to left. In fact, the full name of the young protagonist, Anina Yatay Salas, is composed entirely of palindromes. This unique name plays an important role in the story as Anina learns to understand and accept the qualities that make her different.
Anina is a charming story about childhood, friendship, identity, and growing up. Although deeply rooted in everyday life in Uruguay, its themes are universal: the challenges of being different, the discovery of who we are, and the importance of learning to see others with greater understanding and empathy.
The film is also a wonderful expression of Uruguay’s creative talent and rich cultural identity, brought to life on screen through the imagination and artistry of Alfredo Soderguit.
The event welcomed a diverse and representative audience, with approximately thirty people in attendance. Special mention should be made of the brochure prepared by students in the Spanish Program within the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics. The brochure brought together the activities, research projects, and creative responses developed by the students to explore the film Anina.
Through collaborative work, the students conceived and developed a variety of ways to engage audiences with the film, exploring its content, cultural context, vocabulary—including the translation into English of expressions characteristic of Uruguay—characters, and themes. They also created games for different age groups and opportunities for audiences to discover various aspects of Uruguayan culture.
Following the screening, attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with director Alfredo Soderguit, who interacted with the audience and shared insights into the filmmaking process, the sources of his inspiration, and the objectives and intentions behind this audiovisual creation.