Lost in the Andes: The Meltdown (El Deshielo) - A Tale of Friendship and Mystery
A young Chilean girl and a German teenage skier strike up a friendship in the snowy Andes mountains. However, things take a dark turn when the skier mysteriously disappears. In "The Meltdown (El Deshielo)," director Manuela Martelli delves into the complexities of personal, family, and political trauma. The film, making its world premiere in the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section, follows the story of Inés, a 9-year-old girl, and Hanna, a 15-year-old skier, as they uncover hidden truths in the wake of Hanna's disappearance.
Maya O'Rourke portrays Inés, Maia Rae Domagala plays Hanna, and Saskia Rosendahl takes on the role of Hanna's mother. Set in Chile in 1992, the film follows Inés as she befriends Hanna during a stay at her grandparents' remote hotel near a ski resort in the Andes. When Hanna goes missing, the search for her reveals unsettling revelations.
"The Meltdown" is a co-production between Chile, the United States, Spain, and Mexico, with international sales handled by Les Films du Losange. Directed by Manuela Martelli, the film marks her first writer-director effort in the Cannes Official Selection, following her previous work in the Cannes Directors' Fortnight. This groundbreaking film is the first fiction feature by a Chilean female director to be featured in the Un Certain Regard lineup, a significant achievement for Martelli and a milestone for female directors in Chile.
In an exclusive film clip, Inés and Hanna engage in a conversation about the snow, the mountains, the border, and the military, hinting at the weight of history and secrets that loom over the region. As the characters navigate the aftermath of Hanna's disappearance, "The Meltdown" promises to deliver a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of truth and trauma in a stunning mountain setting.