Luz Nocturna

Directed by Kim Torres
2022 • Costa Rica • 14min

Three siblings grapple with solitude as they learn of their mother's departure with no return. The forest, both companion and specter, weaves its ethereal presence—a haunting echo that lingers in the spaces between their shared moments.





In this secretive tale of siblings, I wanted to explore the burden of an unwanted motherhood. The mother who leaves, and on the other hand, the new maternal role that Ale, the oldest sister has to assume.

This is a tale where the weight of reality manifests in a naturalistic way, while also exploring the density in the atmosphere, creating a dreamlike dimension. It is an ode to the profound nature, but also an inquiry about the oppressive qualities of these spaces.
I worked with my cousins as actors due to the proximity we have and the understanding of the context. We shot in Quepos, Costa Rica where my maternal family lives.







Kim Torres is a Costa Rican director and screenwriter. Her work intertwines narratives about growth, the passage of time and transformation, revealing a universe of inner lives. With her second short film "Night Light" (2022), she became the first Costa Rican filmmaker to compete for the Palm d'Or at Cannes. Her shorts "Suncatcher" (2021) and "The Moon Will Contain Us" (2023) have been screened in stages like NYFF, Locarno, Mar del Plata and New Directors/New Films at MoMa and Lincoln Center. Currently, her debut feature film, "If We Don’t Burn, How Do We Light Up The Night," is in post-production, having participated in renowned development programs including La Fabrique Cinéma and Cinéma de Demain Focus Co Pro at Cannes. In 2022, she served as a Guest Artist at CalArts University. In 2023, she joined the Berlinale Talents Program as a director and screenwriter and in 2024 she joined the Locarno Filmmakers Academy.

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