Welcome to the world of "In Her Place," the brainchild of seasoned Chilean docmaker Maite Alberdi, already a celebrated figure with Oscars nominations for “The Mole Agent” and “The Eternal Memory.” Herlatest venture into fiction, "In Her Place," is a unique concoction of true crime elements, domestic drama, and a touch of feminist narrative. At its core lies the fascination evoked by being in someone else's shoes, an experience akin to what Raymond Carver masterfully captured in his short story "Neighbors."
The protagonist of "In Her Place," Mercedes, played by Elisa Zulueta, is a working-class secretary to a senior judge in 1950s Santiago. She finds herself pulled into the life of a high-profile murder case involving Maria Carolina Geel (Francisca Lewin). Based on real-life events, Geel was a popular and respected Chilean author who shockingly murdered her lover in a high-end Santiago hotel in 1955. The story does not stop at the murder, but continues through the controversial leniency of her sentence, a premature presidential pardon, and publication of a confessional novel penned in prison.
It is Mercedes' pursuit of truth and her fascination with Geel's story that forms the crux of the narrative. Despite being a tangible character in the story, Mercedes resonates more as a symbol of the audience's curiosity and less as an organic character in her own right. As someone saddled with varied responsibilities, Mercedes serves as a human multi-tasker handling various men in her life, be it her negligent husband, her dependent adult sons, or her professionally esteemed boss.
A visit to Geel’s apartment marks a turning point for Mercedes. Encountering a world unlike her own, she finds herself swept into an intricate web of fascination and curiosity. Mercedes contemplates the lavishness of Geel’s lifestyle as she explores her expansive home and indulges in the luxuries that Geel had embraced, even donning her clothes. Mercedes gets a taste of a life beyond her imagination, and this newfound liberation profoundly influences her perception of her own existence.
The slightly exaggerated visual styling and the dramatic undertones are keenly reminiscent of Hitchcockian psychodramas, whilist Mercedes' liberation is ironically attributed to a man's violent act. However, the film falls short of reaching the full potential of its premise due to the unfulfilling script and somewhat overly cheerful performance by Zulueta. Ultimately, despite Mercedes' journey to self-realization, viewers are left contemplating Geel's riveting tale more than hers. "In Her Place" intriguingly winds up as a remarkable short-film concept that could inspire a larger documentary or biopic focused on Geel's life.
