Facies (El Semblante) focuses on the pain, tyranny, and atrocities of the Spanish Inquisition as it stokes fear in one village. The short film from Fantasia is about one family in particular. An inquisitor has spent years longing for the perfect torture device. When a local inventor builds a chair made solely to cause suffering, it appears as if that search is about to end. But when the inventor’s daughter Elena gets involved, everything changes.
Most stories about the Spanish Inquisition are about the unbridled violence of the era. There is some of that here – the chair is absolutely disgusting – but the film is more about the psychological trauma. The initial interaction between the inquisitor and the inventor does a great job of world building. There is a sense of despair and dread through Facies. It takes place in a corrupt time in which no one is safe.
Elena’s interaction with her father not only provides the backstory, but introduces audiences to a powerful female lead. Though it is only around fifteen minutes, the characters become engaging. The powerful Twilight Zone-like ending underscores this feeling. The final moments are chaotic and present several revelations that will impress anyone watching.
Facies (El Semblante) is screening at the Fantasia Festival
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