Set in the bustling city of Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city, Days of the Whale follows Cristina (the mesmerizing Laura Tobón, in a stunning debut) and Simón (David Escallón, also in a powerful debut performance), two young graffiti artists who tag spots around where they live. Simón comes from a more working-class background and lives with his grandmother. Cristina is a college kid from an upper-middle-class family who finds herself living with her dad, because her journalist mother moved to Spain after being threatened by the city’s criminal street gangs. They are both part of an art collective that is the center for a group of young revolutionaries. The love that unites them, as well as their friendships with other artists, keep Cristina from leaving the city—even as tensions rise when Cristina and Simón’s rebellious, restless spirit lead them to defy the same gang that threatened Cristina’s mother by painting a mural over a threatening tag in front of the community arts center.
A note from Senior Programmer Andrew Jupin: Stumbling across Days of the Whale and bringing it to you all reminded me of what is so exciting about working in film curation. Here is a movie you will not see posters for in subway stations (remember those?) or advertised in the weird boxes that sit atop taxi cabs. You also won’t see any of the stars or the filmmaker appearing on Stephen Colbert’s show via Zoom or singing in the back of a minivan with James Corden. And yet, it’s still very good! Days of the Whale is a stark reminder that none of that stuff matters when it comes to the quality and raw power a film can possess. I cannot remember the last time I screened such a self-assured, beautiful, debut feature, but Catalina Arroyave Restrepo has certainly won me over. To be on the ground floor for what will surely be a fascinating and prolific career, well, it’s something to get excited over! This is an impeccably crafted film featuring amazing graffiti art, natural performances, a strong political message, and a diverse and electric soundtrack that ties the whole thing together. To watch this film is like listening to the heartbeat of a new generation of politically minded, talented filmmakers beginning their journey. This film is alive.
