May 16, 2026 10:33pm PT

Dominga Sotomayor Talks ‘Meta’ Element of Casting Selton Mello in Tender Drama ‘La Perra,’ Not Translating the Title to Avoid ‘Violent’ Judgment of Women

Sotomayor's latest film, world premiering at Directors' Fortnight, explores themes of motherhood and trauma through a woman's relationship with her dog

Rafa Sales Ross

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Rafa Sales Ross

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"La Perra," courtesy of Isidora Melo Ramírez

Five years since directing a segment of the anthology film “The Year of the Everlasting Storm,” renowned Chilean director Dominga Sotomayor is back in Cannes with “La Perra.” Premiering at Directors’ Fortnight, the film is based on Pilar Quintana’s eponymous book and produced by Chile’s Planta in co-production with Brazil’s RT Features.

“La Perra” stars Manuela Oyarzún as Silvia, a woman whose quiet life on a remote island off the Chilean coast is shaken by the arrival of stray puppy Yuri, who stirs in her a long-suppressed longing for motherhood. When Yuri goes missing, Silvia’s childhood trauma comes to the surface, forcing the woman to confront a still very much present past. The tender drama also stars Selton Mello (“I’m Still Here”) and David Gaete (“A Place Called Dignity”).

Dominga Sotomayor Talks 'Meta' Element of Casting Selton Mello in Tender Drama ‘La Perra,’ Not Translating the Title to Avoid ‘Violent’ Judgment of Women