Lila Avilés Wraps ‘Cábula’ and Shares Exclusive First Look Ahead of Venice Debut

Mexican filmmaker Lila Avilés, best known for her acclaimed feature “Totém,” has completed production on her latest movie, “Cábula,” and shared an exclusive first look at the film with Variety. The project was recently showcased during the Venice Gap-Financing Market, held from September 4 to 6.

Set in the fictional community of Mexicalpan, “Cábula” tells the story of Toña, a devoted teacher who prioritizes fostering creativity in her students. When her class receives an invitation to represent their town in the capital, the group confronts a bizarre array of elites intent on exploiting their cultural traditions. Despite facing betrayal and obstacles, Toña remains steadfast in her dedication to the transformative potential of education.

The screenplay, co-written by Avilés and Miguel Vasallo, is produced by Nicolás Celis through his Cuadernos de Cine production house. Celis is also known for producing the Academy Award-winning “Roma.” The film is a co-production with Maria Zamora’s Elastica Films and features performances from Teresita Sánchez, Gabriela Cartol, and Montserrat Marañón.

This release marks Avilés’ long-awaited return to the big screen following “Totém,” which captured the Ecumenical Prize at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival. Variety critic Peter Debruge previously praised “Totém” as an emotionally resonant drama, highlighting Avilés’ generous storytelling style in what he called a compelling successor to her debut, “The Chambermaid.”

In a director’s statement, Avilés described “Cábula” as a work that employs comedy as a form of resistance against dehumanization. She noted that the film examines humor as a means to question authority and rebuild social connections through vulnerability. The narrative serves as a tribute to educators in Mexico, many of whom remain underpaid yet act as unsung heroes within their communities.

The cast blends established professionals with local talent, headlined by veteran actress Teresita Sánchez, who previously appeared in both of Avilés’ prior films. Speaking from Mexico City, the director referred to Sánchez as her “muse” and likened their creative synergy to that of Federico Fellini and his wife, Giulietta Masina.

“She has that energy that can make you cry, can make you laugh,” Avilés said. “She’s a magic woman. She has that power.”

Avilés described Sánchez as perfectly suited for the role of Toña, noting the character’s ability to serve as a moral anchor amidst chaos. “She’s a woman that hears, she’s a woman that sees, but most of all, she’s a woman that feels,” the director explained. “She’s really connected to her students, to her vocation — her calling.”

Avilés, who has twice sent films to compete for Mexico’s entry in the Best International Feature Film category, views her three features as part of a continuous creative arc. “When I started to do ‘The Chambermaid,’ I already had ‘Totém’ in my heart. While I was doing ‘Totém,’ I knew I wanted to do ‘Cábula,’” she said. “Sometimes we have stories, and those stories go out [into the world]. It’s that persistence of stories that…are not in the mind, but in the heart.”

Nicolás Celis praised the self-taught director as a “visionary,” adding, “It is a true privilege to team up with a visionary like Lila Avilés, especially at a time when championing such genuine auteur voices is so challenging.”