Suiza

Lima's hottest summer. Three friends. Only one way out – violent and ferocious.

Lucía, Pilar, and Alejandra – three teenage girls scraping by on the edges of survival – live off petty thefts, illegal hustles, and the brutal violence that scars their country. Crushed by the weight of the city, haunted by their abusers, and torn by a deep moral conflict, they make a single, fateful choice – one that will alter the course of their lives forever.

Director's note

Years ago, the summer I finished high school, one of my best friends was thrown out of her home after her family discovered that an uncle had abused her. At sixteen, we spent three months wandering the streets of Lima – not thinking about studying, but imagining every possible way to make money, buy a house, move in together, and build our own community where no one would be left behind. We stole coins on public transport, fruit from supermarkets, and one day, after working somewhere that accepted minors, the police caught us. I was spared. My friend – the exiled one – was not so lucky.
We never spoke again. Why? Perhaps out of shame. Perhaps because some things are better left unsaid. During that summer, the same questions returned again and again: Where am I going? What will tomorrow bring? Who cares about me? What can I do now?
"Suiza" captures the uncertainty faced by many teenage girls in Lima as they leave the safety of home – a harsh, often violent world filled with doubts, but also the fierce loyalty and support of their first true allies: their best friends, their pack. That kind of friendship, that sense of belonging, is unique to adolescence; later in life, you realise its intensity never returns.
Lucía walks this path. Full of doubts, she leaves school and confronts reality. Transforming her fears into dreams, she navigates the journey of growing up, discovering herself, and finding her place. Overwhelmed by the city, by her abusers, and by moral dilemmas, she makes a decision that will change the course of her life – and that of her friends.
"Suiza" is a story of three friends, one summer, one city, and a single fierce, violent escape.

Producer's note

As a film producer, I am constantly seeking original content, especially from women directors – stories that move the soul. That is why I decided to embark on this project almost immediately. Because of the clear vision of its director, and the honesty of its dialogue and characters that truly connect with the audience. María Fernanda and I had never worked together before, but I couldn't help falling in love with the script and its motivation as soon as I read those documents. How could one not feel and connect with a script that reflects how violent your city can be, and how the place where you should feel safest is sometimes the very place that throws you to the lions?
We are currently in post-production. Shooting this film was a challenge in every sense – closing entire streets, working with over 150 extras on set, and managing a team much larger than what a typical debut feature in Peru usually has. But we did it, and I am very happy with the results.
Right now, we are looking to complete post-production. We already have a cut close to the final version, but we still need to finish sound design, mixing, VFX, and music. We want anyone who joins the project to fall in love with this great film as much as we have.

Subjects:
coming of age