“Elena” means a personal dream, relevant and emotional

By Jenny Alvarez

Photos Agency

Elena, a young Brazilian woman, moved to New York with the same dream her mother had: to become a film actress. She left behind a childhood spent in hiding during the years of the military dictatorship. She also left Petra, her beloved seven-year-old sister. Over time, Elena’s calls and letters home trailed off, until one day they stopped entirely. Years later, Petra also becomes an actress and heads to New York in search of her destiny, but also in search of her troubled sister. She remembers and imagines Elena through home movies, letters, a diary, and dreamlike sequences full of longing. As she tries to unravel the mystery of her sister, their stories overlap and begin to blur, challenging us to discover truths about forgiveness, loss, catharsis, and love. A film between documentary, diary, and fever dream which delves into the abyss of one family’s drama, revealing at once the inspiration that can be born from tragedy. It’s a sensitive film and heartbreaking story full of courageous that takes you inside Petra’s mind. In some scenes, Elena is in New York City, a city that reflects a cinematic dream combined with urban poetry especially for a well structured and personal documentary directed by Petra Costa.