The Maid (2009 film)

The Maid (Spanish: La Nana) is a 2009 Chilean comedy-drama film, directed by Sebastián Silva and co-written by Silva and Pedro Peirano. It has won numerous awards since its premiere at the 25th Annual Sundance Film Festival. The film has had much critical acclaim, particularly for Catalina Saavedra's award-winning performance as the lead character.

The Maid
Theatrical film poster
Directed bySebastián Silva
Written byPedro Peirano
Sebastián Silva
Produced byGregorio González
Starring
Distributed byElephant Eye Films
Release date
  • August 13, 2009 (2009-08-13)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryChile
LanguageSpanish

Plot synopsis

For over 23 years, Raquel (Saavedra) has worked as the maid for the Valdes family.[1] She shows utmost loyalty and respect to her employers, Pilar (Celedón) and Edmundo (Goic). Raquel gets along well with their teenage son, Lucas (Agustín Silva), but often clashes with their headstrong daughter, Camila (García-Huidobro).

When Raquel begins to suffer from dizzy spells caused by her excessive use of chlorine for household cleaning, Pilar decides to hire additional maids to assist Raquel with her daily chores. However, Raquel fiercely guards her territory and resents the newcomers, engaging in a series of increasingly desperate attempts to drive them away. This includes the younger maid, Lucy (Loyola), as Raquel tries to maintain her position in the household.[2]

Cast

Reception

Critical reception

Critics have responded very positively to the film. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a 93% approval rating, based on 75 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Catalina Saavedra's devastating performance would be reason enough to see The Maid but Sebastian Silva's empathetic direction and finely tuned script only add to the movie's pleasing heft."[3] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 82 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[4]

Film critic David Parkinson called it "an exceptional study of the emotional investment that domestics make in the families they serve. Saavedra is mesmerizing as she shifts from subservient to scheming."[5] Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert described the film as a "unpredictable, naturalistic gem."[6]

Accolades

According to the National Board of Review, The Maid was one of 2009's five best Best Foreign-Language Films;[7] also, it was nominated for the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards consideration honoring 2009 achievements for the same category,[8] and "AyAyAyAy" (the film's main theme song) was one of the 63 songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures contending for nominations in the Original Song category for the 82nd Academy Awards.[9]

Despite the film's great success, the film was not chosen as Chile's submission to the 82nd Academy Awards. Instead, Miguel Littín's Dawson Isla 10 was sent, but the film didn't make the short-list.[10]

Year Event Recipient Award Result
2009 Cartagena Film Festival Sebastián Silva Critics Award - Best Film Won
Catalina Saavedra Golden India Catalina - Best Actress Won
Sebastián Silva Golden India Catalina - Best Film Nominated
Gotham Film Awards Gregorio González (producer)
Sebastián Silva (director)		 Best Feature Nominated
Catalina Saavedra Breakthrough Actor/Actress Won
Off Plus Camera Film Festival Poland Gregorio González (producer)
Sebastián Silva (director)		 Cracow Film Award (Best Film) Won
Sarasota Film Festival Best Narrative Film Won
Fribourg International Film Festival Sebastián Silva (director) Talent Tape Award Won
Paris Cinema International Film Festival Audience Award Won
Taipei Film Festival Special Mention New Talent Competition
3rd Audience Award		 Won
Latin American Film Festival Critics Award Won
Elcine First Prize - Best Film Won
Sundance Film Festival Awards Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema - Dramatic Won
Catalina Saavedra Special Jury Prize (For Acting): World Cinema - Dramatic Won
Satellite Awards 2009 Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Nominated
Sebastián Silva (director) Best Foreign Language Film Won Tied with Broken Embraces
2010 NAACP Image Awards Best Foreign Language Film Nominated
Golden Globes Awards Best Foreign Language Film Nominated

References
  1. "The Maid (2009)". IndieWIRE.com. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  2. Chang, Justin (2009-01-24). "The Maid (2009)". Variety.com. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  3. "La Nana (The Maid) (2009)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  4. "The Maid Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  5. Radio Times, 29 September-5 October 2012, p.42
  6. Ebert, Roger. "CIFF 2009: The winners! And our reviews". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
  7. "National Board of Review Awards 2009", IMDB, retrieved 2021-08-07
  8. "Nominations & Winners". GoldenGlobes.org. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  9. "63 Original Songs Tune Up For 2009 Oscar". Oscars.org. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  10. David Wallechinsky (4 May 2010). "Academy Awards: Foreign Language Films 2010". Huffington Post. many observers were surprised that it wasn't chosen as the nation's entry for the Academy Award.
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