In Her Place is a 2024 Chilean crime thriller directed by Maite Alberdi. It brings an intriguing mix of mystery and drama. Inspired by Alia Trabucco Zeran's novel The Murderers, the movie features Elisa Zulueta and Francisca Lewin in the leading roles.
The film was screened at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival on September 23, 2024. It will arrive on Netflix on October 11, 2024 for the global audience.
The plot delves deep into the challenges that woman have to face in a society. Through the relationship between the two lead female characters, the audience is exposed to themes of identity, freedom, and societal norms.
The official synopsis of the movie reads:
"After Chilean writer María Carolina Geel murders her lover, the case captivates shy legal secretary Mercedes, sparking a connection between the two women."
What to expect from crime thriller In Her Place?
In Her Place is set in Chile in the mid-20th century and focuses on the psychological journey of its characters. The film revolves around Mercedes, who is assigned the case of a famous writer named María Carolina Geel.
The narrative opens with the real-life murder of Geel’s lover in 1955. As Mercedes investigates the case, she starts looking at her own life and the restrictions placed on women at the time. She explores Geel's life, visits her apartment, and discovers her background.
Mercedes gets more and more fixated on Geel's apparent freedom the more she learns about her life; this finally causes her to face her own ideas and aspirations. Viewers can anticipate a depiction of the inner conflicts women experience in confined societies.
Cast of In Her Place
In Her Place features a stellar cast, led by Elisa Zulueta and Francisca Lewin. Zulueta portrays Mercedes, a shy paralegal professional whose obsession with Geel’s case drives the plot forward. Meanwhile, Lewin plays María Carolina Geel, an enigmatic writer at the center of the murder trial.
Marcial Tagle, Pablo Macaya, and Gabriel Urzúa round out the cast, contributing to the film's complex portrayal of post-war Chilean society.
Trailer breakdown
The official trailer of In Her Place sets the stage for an intense and thought-provoking narrative. It opens with a scene of post-war Chile, capturing the tension and atmosphere of the time. The audience is quickly introduced to the central characters, with glimpses of Mercedes' growing fascination with Geel.
The trailer hints at the evolving psychological connection between the two women, interspersed with scenes from the murder trial.
Director and production team
Maite Alberdi is directing In Her Place. She is an Oscar-nominated director renowned for her close investigations of challenging subjects, such as The Mole Agent. The movie is produced by Juan de Dios Larrain, Rocio Jadue, and Pablo Larrain under the Fabula production company.
The screenplay is penned by Inés Bortagaray and Paloma Salas, who have adapted Alia Trabucco Zeran’s novel for the big screen.
The creative team behind In Her Place also includes cinematographer Sergio Armstrong, who captures the film’s stark and moody visuals. The editing is handled by Alejandro Carrillo Penovi, and the music is composed by José Miguel Miranda alongside Miguel Tobar.
In Her Place promises to be an intense psychological drama with themes of society expectations, freedom, and identity that examines. Under Maite Alberdi's direction, the film presents the complexity of post-war Chile and gives viewers a commentary on women's fight for autonomy as well as a gripping crime narrative.
Don't miss its October 11, 2024 Netflix worldwide premiere.