Chile’s ‘Erratics’ Mixes Fiction and Ghost Cinema at San Sebastián

Premiere at San Sebastián’s New Directors Competition

The 2024 edition of the San Sebastián Film Festival opened its New Directors sidebar with the world premiere of Chilean filmmaker Thomas Woodroffe’s first feature, Erratics. The competition, which highlights emerging voices from around the globe, selected the film for its daring blend of genre elements and its striking visual treatment of Patagonia.

San Sebastián Film Festival is renowned for launching careers, and Woodroffe joins a lineage that includes celebrated auteurs who first gained notice on its screens.

Why the festival matters

Since its inception in 1953, the festival has served as a cultural bridge between Europe and Latin America. Its New Directors section offers a platform for experimental narratives, making it an ideal home for a film that intertwines ghost cinema with speculative fiction.

Thomas Woodroffe’s Vision of Patagonian Hauntology

Woodroffe, a graduate of the University of Chile’s film program, grew up trekking the windswept plains of southern Chile. Those experiences informed his fascination with the concept of hauntology – the idea that the past lingers in the present like a specter.

In an interview, Woodroffe explained that he wanted to capture the feeling of being trapped in a landscape that feels both timeless and haunted. He described Patagonia as a place where “the sky seems to hold a memory that refuses to fade.”

From script to screen

The screenplay, co‑written with poet and visual artist Martina Rojas, underwent three drafts before the final version took shape. Production began in early 2023, with a crew of thirty locals who provided logistical support and cultural insight.

• Location scouting was conducted in the Torres del Paine National Park.
• All exterior shots were captured using natural light to preserve the region’s ethereal quality.
• The sound design incorporates recordings of Patagonian winds, creating an auditory echo of the film’s themes.

Plot Overview: The Ghost of Lucien Castelnau

Erratics follows the spectral figure of French filmmaker Lucien Castelnau, portrayed by veteran actor Denis Lavant. Castelnau awakens after a century of limbo to find himself amidst the stark beauty of Patagonia. He discovers that his consciousness is bound to a series of mysterious stone formations known as erratic blocks, which have drifted far from their original locations.

As Castelnau navigates this alien terrain, he encounters a community of nomadic herders who speak an ancient dialect that seems to echo his own forgotten memories. The narrative weaves together moments of surreal dialogue, silent contemplation, and sudden bursts of visual poetry.

Key themes and visual style

The film explores several interlocking ideas:

1. Temporal dislocation – the clash between a century‑old mind and a contemporary environment.
2. Nature as memory – the erratic blocks act as physical reminders of lost histories.
3. Identity and exile – Castelnau’s struggle mirrors the experience of artists displaced by time.

Visually, Woodroffe employs long takes and minimal cuts, allowing the audience to linger on the expansive horizons. The color palette shifts from muted earth tones to sudden flashes of turquoise when the narrative reaches moments of revelation.

Denis Lavant’s Role and Performance

Denis Lavant, known for his collaborations with director Leos Carax, brings a kinetic yet contemplative presence to the screen. His performance relies heavily on physicality, using subtle gestures to convey the weight of a century‑long confinement.

In a recent profile, Denis Lavant described the role as “a meditation on silence and movement.” His ability to inhabit a ghostly figure without heavy dialogue aligns with the film’s emphasis on visual storytelling.

Critical Reception and Early Reactions

Early reviews from festival attendees highlight the film’s atmospheric strength. One critic from The Guardian praised the “mesmerising interplay of light and landscape” and noted that the film “asks more questions than it answers, which is a hallmark of great speculative cinema.”

Another reviewer from IndieWire commended the “haunting score” that blends traditional Patagonian instruments with electronic drones, creating a soundscape that feels both ancient and futuristic.

What the Film Means for Chilean Cinema

Chile has experienced a renaissance in international cinema over the past decade, with directors such as Pablo Larraín and Sebastián Lelio gaining global recognition. Erratics adds a new dimension by integrating speculative fiction into a distinctly Chilean setting.

The film’s success at San Sebastián could open doors for further co‑production opportunities between Chile and European art houses. It also showcases the potential of Patagonia as a cinematic frontier, encouraging future projects to explore its untapped narrative possibilities.

Beyond the festival circuit, Woodroffe hopes the film will inspire discussions about memory, place, and the lingering presence of artistic legacies. As he put it in a press release, “Every erratic block is a story waiting to be heard.”

With its blend of ghostly performance, poetic visuals, and philosophical depth, Erratics stands as a compelling entry in the evolving landscape of Latin American genre cinema.