Michel Franco's Sundown: A Study of Alienation in Acapulco

Michel Franco's film Sundown (2021) follows Neil Bennett (Tim Roth), a wealthy heir vacationing with his sister Alice (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and her children Colin and Alexa at a luxurious Acapulco resort. A family emergency forces them to return to the UK, disrupting their idyllic stay and shattering family dynamics. Neil is portrayed as evasive, apathetic, and antiheroic, contrasted with Alice's proactive nature. The film also features Berenice (Iazua Larios), a symbol of escape and future. Franco, who won the Silver Lion at Venice in 2020 for New Order, continues his analysis of social dynamics and individual alienation. The narrative keeps viewers uncertain, never fully understanding motivations. Sundown is a co-production between France, Mexico, and Sweden, running 82 minutes. The article appeared in Artribune Magazine #70.