[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 – 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year’s CIFF here.]
Chasing Fireflies
Director: Roberto Flores Prieto
Country: Colombia
CIFF Screenings: October 18, 2013 (5:30pm), October 19, 2013 (11:45am)
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Manrique lives a solitary life watching over an abandoned salt mine in Colombia. His only forms of social contact are with a stray dog and a co-worker who insists on telling mediocre jokes before giving Manrique daily security codes. His routine is broken up by the appearance of a young daughter he didn’t know about. Her cheery, optimistic nature soon begins to rub off on Manrique as he slowly begins to lighten up and connect with Valeria.
Chasing Fireflies was shot beautifully against the natural backdrop of Colombia. The most pivotal scene of film is perhaps where the film found its title where Manrique and Valeria are surrounded by fireflies during a late night bonfire; it’s in this scene where the cinematography is at its best. The film’s theme of family and love is never too sentimental or cheesy, which films of this nature can sometimes end up becoming. As has been common in most other films screening at this year’s CIFF, Chasing Fireflies has many moments of quiet ambience, playing into Manrique’s self-isolation, but also letting the relationship between he and Valeria grow naturally without the need for incessant dialogue to push the connection along.
Score: 
7 out of 10