In this way, the film establishes from its start the connection between ‘tropical virus’ and a woman’s voice and knowledge of her body. The title of this Colombian-Ecuadorian animation comes from a misdiagnosis Paola’s mother receives from a doctor, quick to dismiss her symptoms of pregnancy as a ‘tropical virus’.

Nonetheless, the virus has a ‘tropical’ origin, namely the ingrained Catholicism and social inequality of South America. We witness three generations of Latin American women – the protagonist, her mother and two older sisters – grow more and more independent. Although the title ‘Virus Tropical’ evokes the timeliness of infectious disease as subject matter, the virus in question is a powerful metaphor of the impetus to break away from patriarchy. A young spirit film that invites us to witness a nostalgic portrait of a broken family.Adapted from Powerpaola’s graphic novel memoir Virus Tropical (2011), this directorial feature debut from Santiago Caicedo is a tale of resilient femininity and a fragmented family unit that pulls the viewer into the inner world of Paola, an Ecuadorian girl who later moves to Colombia. Tropical Virus puts us in contact with an alien mind, whose life is so different and at the same time so similar to ours.

The designs of characters and decorations transmit the essence of the original artwork, which with a mixture of affection and criticism presents the emotional impressions of what was the Quito and Cali of that time however, the rhythm of the film is hampered by trying to include too many narrative elements, dialogues that do not flow freely, and an ending that leaves a lot to the imagination, denoting a lack of experience in the medium of animation in feature film format.Įven so, this cinematographic work offers a breath of fresh air to our billboard, as it is a foreign film (not American), animated, and with a female vision, which also touches on topics such as distance, coming of age, and the search of independence, in a way so close to our country.

At first, we came across a film that at a technical level may seem a little weak, although stylistically successful. From her unexpected birth, to the inevitable journey to reside in another country, our protagonist will face a series of events that will change her perception of the world that surrounds her. Inspired by the graphic novel by the Colombian-Ecuadorian illustrator Power Paola, and directed by Santiago Caicedo, Tropical Virus shows us the life of the Gaviria family, seen from the perspective of the smallest member.

Virus tropical by Powerpaola