Movies: Lazaro at night (2024) by Nicolás Pereda: Love, Desire, and the Theater of Life
- dailyentertainment95
- Sep 13
- 5 min read
When the Stage Becomes a Mirror
Lázaro at Night (original title Lázaro de noche) is a Mexico-Canada co-production written, directed, shot, and edited by Nicolás Pereda. The 76-minute docufiction blurs the line between reality and performance, following three actors — played by Francisco Barreiro, Gabriel Nuncio, and Gabino Rodríguez — who find themselves entangled in a love triangle while preparing for and auditioning in a film project. As they rehearse, jealousy and longing creep in, and their real emotions bleed into their roles. The film is at once romance, meta-fiction, and a subtle commentary on authenticity and desire. It premiered June 27, 2024 in France, screened at FIDMarseille, TIFF’s Wavelengths, and New York Film Festival, where critics praised it as a playfully cerebral and emotionally resonant exploration of performance, identity, and intimacy. It has earned two festival nominations so far, marking it as one of Pereda’s most talked-about works.
Why to Recommend Movie: Intimate, Witty, and Deeply Human
Explores the tension between reality and fiction — The love triangle is not just narrative but a commentary on how acting becomes an extension of lived experience. Pereda invites us to watch the characters question where acting ends and truth begins, which makes the viewing experience intellectually stimulating.
Strong ensemble chemistry — Francisco Barreiro, Gabriel Nuncio, and Gabino Rodríguez deliver understated yet magnetic performances, allowing small gestures, silences, and glances to communicate as much as dialogue. The actors’ shared history deepens the sense that we are watching real friendships being tested.
Meta-cinema with heart — The film uses the frame of auditions and rehearsals to ask bigger questions about identity, art, and desire. Instead of being coldly cerebral, it is playful, funny, and warm — drawing viewers in even as it challenges them.
Universal themes in a unique format — Although experimental, the emotional core is universally relatable: love, jealousy, vulnerability, and the fear of being exposed. This makes it accessible even for those new to Pereda’s hybrid style.
Festival and critical attention — Its selection in NYFF and TIFF’s Wavelengths program confirms its place as a key 2024 art-house release, making it an essential watch for fans of contemporary world cinema.
Each of these reasons makes Lázaro at Night a rare cinematic experience — both thought-provoking and emotionally alive — offering something beyond the usual love story or drama.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/lazaro-at-night (US)
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33084901/
What is the Trend Followed: Meta-Romance & Hybrid Cinema
Lázaro at Night sits comfortably within the trend of hybrid films where the narrative blurs between life and art.
It joins a growing wave of cinema that explores the backstage of performance and filmmaking, using those settings to reveal raw truths about intimacy and identity.
The focus on minimalism and repetition connects it to slow cinema traditions, encouraging audiences to sit in silence, awkwardness, and ambiguity — creating a richer, more immersive experience.
The love triangle narrative within a meta-context reflects current interest in exploring desire and jealousy not as melodrama but as subtle, character-driven tension.
Director’s Vision: Minimalism and Emotional Precision
Nicolás Pereda crafts an intimate chamber piece where the camera lingers, allowing discomfort to unfold naturally. He resists traditional narrative closure, inviting viewers to sit with ambiguity.
His use of real-life collaborators and actors playing versions of themselves heightens the feeling of authenticity and invites speculation on where fiction ends.
The film is as much about the process of performance as it is about the characters — Pereda positions the audience as voyeurs, watching rehearsals, auditions, and private moments with equal weight.
Themes: Love, Performance, and Exposure
Reality vs fiction — The core theme is the constant negotiation between who we are and who we pretend to be, whether for the camera, for each other, or for ourselves.
Jealousy and desire — The love triangle explores how desire can destabilize creative and personal collaboration, bringing vulnerability and ego into focus.
Art as confession — By putting their lives into the work, the characters expose hidden truths, making the film a meditation on how art can be both liberating and destructive.
Authenticity in gesture — Small actions — drinking water, repeating a line, looking at someone too long — are elevated into emotional revelations.
Key Success Factors: Why It Works So Well
Performances that blur reality — The actors’ history with Pereda and with each other make the film feel lived-in, intimate, and spontaneous, giving weight to every moment.
Narrative experimentation that remains accessible — While structurally playful, the story is emotionally direct, making it appealing beyond hardcore festival audiences.
Delicate balance of humor and melancholy — There are moments of quiet comedy that make the heavier emotional beats more impactful.
Visual style supporting intimacy — Pereda’s close, static framing forces the viewer into the characters’ space, heightening tension and intimacy.
Awards & Nominations: Festival Spotlight
Lázaro at Night has received two festival nominations to date and continues its run across international festivals. While it hasn’t yet secured major awards, its selection in programs like NYFF’s Currents and TIFF’s Wavelengths is itself an indicator of critical prestige and international relevance.
Critics Reception: A Quiet, Playful Gem
Film Experience praised the film as an intimate and cerebral work that asks what we really want — from each other, from love, and from our art — calling it one of Pereda’s most engaging films to date.
POV Magazine called it “an invitation to discomfort and absurdity” and admired its ability to keep audiences guessing about what is staged and what is real.
Loud and Clear Reviews praised its formal elegance but noted that some viewers may find its resolution too understated, leaving emotional arcs unresolved.
Overall, critics agree that Lázaro at Night is a strong, thoughtful entry in Pereda’s filmography, one that deepens his ongoing exploration of performance and intimacy.
Reviews: Minimal but Resonant
Strengths: The meta-narrative structure, rich performances, and quiet humor make it a standout in the festival circuit. Its focus on small gestures creates emotional depth rarely seen in mainstream romances.
Weaknesses: Some viewers may find the slow pacing challenging, and the love triangle’s resolution intentionally ambiguous — leaving them with more questions than answers.
Overall: It is a film for viewers who appreciate intimacy, subtlety, and layered storytelling rather than conventional resolutions.
Movie Trend: Hybrid Cinema About Desire
The film is part of the trend of meta-romances and hybrid cinema that deconstruct the boundaries between real life and performance. It reflects an era of filmmaking fascinated by identity, process, and authenticity rather than clean plot resolution.
Social Trend: Transparency and Vulnerability in Art
Lázaro at Night mirrors a cultural shift toward radical honesty and vulnerability, both in relationships and in art. It asks its audience to question what they show the world, how much of that is performed, and whether intimacy can survive full exposure.
Final Verdict: A Meditative and Playful Puzzle
Lázaro at Night is a delicate, emotionally rich work that blends love, art, and performance into a quietly compelling puzzle. It is not a film for those seeking easy answers, but for viewers willing to sit with ambiguity and savor small revelations, it is a rewarding experience that lingers long after the credits.
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