Bringing the Voice

Traer la voz

Visual artist Klaudia Kemper tries to reconnect with her ageing, aphasic father, a psychoanalyst who remained in Brazil after she left for Chile when she was young.

During her youth, Klaudia became distanced from her father, who never visited her in Chile. However, for 21 years he wrote letters to her, until this was no longer possible. On deciding to reconnect with him, she finds an old man who has lost the ability to speak or write. This communication impasse notwithstanding, Klaudia explores ways to deal with her many emotions; from anger and pain, to love and longing, all encompassed by the Portuguese word ‘saudade’. Examining the complexity and limitations of language as a form of communication – its ability to both connect and disconnect people – the filmmaker finds a touching, cinematic voice to express her feelings towards her father. And in his many letters, Klaudia and her film return her father’s voice to him.