Sin Senas Particulares (Identifying Features)

About Sin Señas Particulares (Identifying Features)

Sin Señas Particulares, also known as Identifying Features, is a gripping and emotional Mexican drama released in 2022. This piece of masterful cinema articulates the horror and desolation of the families whose loved ones have disappeared in the violence-torn landscape of contemporary Mexico. The film revolves around Magdalena, a mother whose teenage son vanishes after leaving home to cross the border into the U.S. This begins her quest to trace and find her missing son through a nation teetering towards lawlessness and desolation.

Making / Production

Directed by Fernanda Valadez and co-written by Valadez and Astrid Rondero, this film stands as a poignant exploration of human bravery and maternal love in the face of harrowing chaos. Sin Señas Particulares was produced by Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez and Jack Zagha, under the banners of Corpulenta Producciones and Avanti Pictures.

Actors

• Mercedes Hernández as Magdalena: An embodiment of courage and desperation, she tirelessly searches for her son in a landscape seared by violence.
• David Illescas as Miguel: A recently deported migrant who befriends Magdalena and becomes her companion during the arduous journey.
• Juan Jesús Varela as Jesús: Playing the missing son and the emotional axis of the plot, his performance is haunting, although mostly seen in flashbacks.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film won numerous awards before its release, showing at Sundance and many other prominent film festivals.
• Identifying Features marks the debut feature of director Fernanda Valadez.
• While the film's subject matter is topical, the filmmakers intentionally avoided presenting explicit violence on screen to focus on the human and emotional toll.

Awards

Sin Señas Particulares has been critically acclaimed, winning multiple awards including the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award and the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award at Sundance Film Festival 2020. It was also the recipient of the Best Screenplay award at the Morelia International Film Festival.

Quotes

• "I`ll find him, whatever it takes." - Magdalena
• "I can help you look for him, but I`m afraid I already know what we will find." - Miguel

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's score was composed by Clarice Jensen, whose haunting yet understated work contributes significantly to the overall atmospheric tension of the film.
• Apart from the original score, the sound design of the film effectively captures the eerie silence and escalating dread of the narrative.