Beauty that burdens, desire that disrupts

Argentinian filmmaker Mariana Wainstein's Linda, screened at the 55th International Film Festival of India, delves into the uneasy intersections of beauty, class, and desire, unraveling the dynamics of an upmarket household shaken by the presence of a magnetic maid

- SUDHIR SRINIVASAN

In an ideal world, every compelling film would be followed by a conversation with its creator—a chance to unlock its mysteries, absorb its truths, and confirm our conclusions. That's the magic of festivals: they make this ideal a reality. On day 7 of the 55th International Film Festival of India, Goa, director Mariana Wainstein graced the screening of her film, Linda, offering a brief but potent preface. She took to the microphone and, with disarming honesty, warned the audience that her film might be "uncomfortable."

The discomfort begins immediately—dog poop, an ant drowning in a drink. These small, visceral moments set the tone, preparing us for a film unafraid of unease. The premise is deceptively simple: a beautiful woman, Linda, who might have been a successful model in different circumstances, joins an Argentinian upmarket household as a maid. Her arrival is like a spark in dry grass—subtle at first, but inevitably incendiary. The family's discomfort is palpable. If Linda were plain or unremarkable, she might have slipped into the background, easily invisible. But her beauty refuses to be ignored, becoming an undeniable presence that disrupts the household, creating waves of tension—sexual and otherwise.