Tita (Laura Patalano) is an elderly woman with health struggles, and the job that she loves is becoming increasingly difficult. When she decides to turn to artificial intelligence to help her with her job, all that she had hoped them to be and the relief that she had anticipated eludes her. This is The Ballad of Tita and the Machines.
The Ballad of Tita and the Machines is another venture into the world of artificial intelligence, a place in cinema that is becoming more and more prominent. It’s not really anything new, but it does a nice job of remaining relevant emotionally–allowing it to do enough to appeal to viewers along the way.
Patalano, like a million actors that have come before, is an accurate showing of people in the real world (even though The Ballad of Tita and the Machines takes place in a much more advanced future). What’s nice about her simplicity is that she remains accessible to all in a place drastically different than what viewers might know. In a world so different, understanding and accessibility can be challenging, and Patalano does a wonderful job of keeping The Ballad of Tita and the Machines grounded throughout the course of the film.
As a result of her being so common, so accessible, when she struggles, we struggle. Her existence is enough to develop drama and emotion, and viewers are taken on an emotional ride as a result of this. However, the drama, too, much like the character of Tita, is simple. While the situation in which viewers find themselves throughout the course of The Ballad of Tita and the Machines is outside the realm of normalcy, the landscape is created in the image of what we know the world to be today. Again, viewers are given access to the film in a number of ways.
The motto of The Ballad of Tita and the Machines, considering its futuristic storyline, is keep it simple. From the characters to the casting, and the landscape to the emotion, The Ballad of Tita and the Machines adheres to this incredibly simplistic cinematic approach–and it does the film wonders. From beginning to end I was able to feel Tita’s pain, understand her troubles, and access her every move. Through somber tones, effective acting, and a seemingly intentionally simplistic approach, The Ballad of Tita and the Machines reaches its audience and tells its story.
Directed by Miguel Angel Caballero.
Written by Luis Antonio Aldana & Miguel Angel Caballero.
Starring Laura Patalano, Cheryl Umaña Bonilla, Rafael Cobos Delgado, Geoffrey Rivas, Rocío López, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
