Language Lessons

About Language Lessons

Language Lessons is an 2021 American drama film directed by Natalie Morales in her directorial debut and written by Morales and Mark Duplass. The story revolves around a man named Adam, who receives Spanish lessons from a woman named Cariño as a gift from his husband. But the lessons take on new meaning when tragedy strikes and they must navigate grief and trauma together in different languages.

Making / Production

The film is a co-production between Duplass Brothers Productions and Amigo Skate Cuba. Shot in a COVID-safe environment, the movie uses video call formats and remote shooting techniques to tell its story. It was shot on location in Costa Rica and Los Angeles and premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Actors

• Mark Duplass: Plays Adam, a man who learns Spanish in the wake of a personal tragedy. He delivers a nuanced performance balancing guilt, pain, and eventual acceptance.
• Natalie Morales: Plays Cariño, Adam's Spanish teacher. Morales depicts a confident, empathetic character who serves as a pillar of support for Adam.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film was shot in just eight days.
• The actors, Morales and Duplass, also wrote and co-produced the film together.
• The film experiments with the 'Screenlife' format, where action takes place entirely on the screens of the characters' devices.
• This is Natalie Morales' directorial debut.

Awards

'Language Lessons' was awarded the 'Audience Award' in the 'Innovative' category at the SXSW Film Festival 2021.

Quotes

• "Language is not just words. It's culture, it's expression, it's irony...it's many things."
• "Sometimes, often times, the student teaches the teacher."

Music, Soundtrack

• The film features an original score composed by Gaby Moreno.
• Mark Duplass, a musician himself, also contributed to the soundtrack.