Double Freedom

In his newest work, fresh from its Cannes 2026 premiere, visionary director Lisandro Alonso revisits his acclaimed debut with a beguilingly rhythmic rural family tale.

Misael is content with his spartan life in a remote corner of Argentina’s picturesque La Pampa province. Dwelling in a shack, he spends his days cutting down trees, treating the wood and dealing with local traders. Soon, however, an unexpected responsibility upends his life, and the logic of his days fades away in a place where human reason holds no meaning.

Lisandro Alonso returns 25 years later to the protagonist of his debut feature, 2001’s simple, soft-spoken landmark of slow cinema La libertad. This latest feature, whose title – in Spanish, La libertad doble – directly calls back to its predecessor, reunites Alonso with the same nonprofessional lead, Misael Saavedra, along with cinematographer Cobi Migliora, once again shooting on 35mm. Through this mirroring, the director reflects on how life in Argentina has grown more precarious over the past quarter-century, for lumberjacks and filmmakers alike.

Content: Melbourne International Film Festival