Melina Léon’s feature debut continues to gain momentum. The Peruvian writer-director’s “Song Without a Name” made its world premiere at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and recently took home the CineVision Award at the Munich Film Festival, and now the child trafficking drama has secured North American distribution. ScreenDaily reports that Film Movement acquired the drama and is planning a theatrical run towards the end of this year with a home entertainment and digital release to follow.
Inspired by events in Peru in the 1980s, “Song Without a Name” tells the story of Georgina (Pamela Mendoza), a woman whose newborn daughter gets stolen from a clinic.
“Perhaps what drew me to this story was the way I learned about it,” Léon told us. “My dad, who was a journalist, one day received a phone call from a French woman who wanted to thank him for the articles he wrote decades before about child trafficking. She was one of the babies that was stolen and was delivered to French parents.” She explained, “I felt the story was miraculous and, at the same time, really telling about where we are as humans — about the meaning of human condition.”
“Léon artfully brings a little known true story to light in this Kafka-esque thriller,” said Film Movement president Michael Rosenberg. “And though it’s set in the 80s, its subjects – child trafficking, human, indigenous rights, the importance of a free press – are still hot button, ripped-from-the headlines topics in 2019. We’re excited to introduce this exceptionally talented new director to North American audiences in the coming year.”
Léon added, “Our film speaks about a primal fear, what would you do if your newly born was kidnapped and nobody is there to help you find it? ‘Cancion Sin Nombre’ speaks about a nightmarish country that not only allows such a crime but promotes it. I think this will touch everyone.”
Prior to the film’s premiere at Cannes in May, we asked Léon what differences she’s noticed in the film industry since the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements launched. “It’s beautiful that we are at the center of the discussion. Women are organizing all over the world,” she observed. “I see new women’s groups online all the time — women supporting each other’s work, hearing each other’s stories, providing career and artistic advice. A month ago, a group called Women Filmmakers began in Lima, Peru. It seems to me that we are finally becoming aware of our oppressed situation, in spite of all our liberties, and acknowledging the need to act collectively and envision a different world.”
