| The Major Tones | |
| Native Name: | |
| Director: | Ingrid Pokropek |
| Starring: |
|
| Cinematography: | Ana Roy |
| Editing: | Miguel de Zuviría |
| Runtime: | 101 minutes |
| Language: | Spanish |
The Major Tones (es|Los tonos mayores) is a 2023 Spanish-language fantasy mystery film written and directed by Ingrid Pokropek in her feature directorial debut. Starring Sofía Clausen in her screen acting debut, the film tells the story of fourteen-year-old Ana, who discovers that the metal plate she has in her arm from an accident she suffered as a child is now receiving a strange message in Morse code.[1] [2]
An Argentina and Spain co-production, it was selected in the Generation Kplus section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its International premiere on 17 February and compete for Crystal Bear for the Best Film.[3]
The film is a fantastic tale about music, secret messages, and winter days.
Ana, a 14-years old girl lives in Buenos Aires with her artist and teacher father Javier. After an accident, when she was a child, she needed prosthetics and has a metal plate in her arm. During the winter holidays, she starts to feel mysterious pulses in the plate. Without telling Javier, she composes a melody called "The Heartbeat Song" with her friend Lepa, inspired by the rhythmic signals. One night, an argument with Lepa leads Ana to roam the city alone. She meets a young soldier who reveals that the pulses are actually words in Morse code. Ana becomes determined to decode the words, realizing that her arm is an antenna to an unknown mystery. As she delves into the maze of secret messages, she distances herself from her friend and her dad. The previously harmonious winter holiday is transformed by Ana's obsession as she wonders if the coded words are addressed specifically to her.
The Major Tones had its premiere at 38th Mar del Plata International Film Festival in Argentine Competition on 7 November 2023.[5] [6]
It had its International premiere on 17 February 2024, as part of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, in Generation Kplus.[7] [8]
The film was screened in Zonazine section at the 27th Málaga Film Festival on 3 March 2024.[9] [10] Distributed by 39 Escalones Films,[11] it was released theatrically in Spain on 12 July 2024.
| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar del Plata International Film Festival | 12 November 2023 | Special Jury Mention & Best Film in Official Competition by a Latin American director up to 35 years old | Ingrid Pokropek | [12] [13] | |
| Berlin International Film Festival | 25 February 2024 | Generation Kplus Crystal Bear for Best Feature Film | [14] | ||
| Málaga Film Festival | 9 March 2024 | Silver Biznaga for Best Ibero-American Film ('Zonazine' sidebar competition) | The Major Tones | [15] [16] | |
| Silver Biznaga for Best Actress in a Leading Role ('Zonazine' sidebar competition) | Sofía Clausen | ||||
| Jeonju International Film Festival | 7 May 2024 | Grand Prize in International Competition Category | The Major Tones | [17] | |
| Seattle International Film Festival | 19 May 2024 | Ibero-American Competition Special Jury Prize | [18] | ||