Kusi Smiles (2026) REVIEW

The short film “Kusi Smiles” presented here showcases the identity of a character that’s grappling with the signature of loss of a parent while upholding and signifying her culture as her bedrock. There is such a beauty with the filmmaking going on on screen that it might just be the unsung hero of the short – the production and cinematography truly make every scene shine with the authenticity of Indigenous Peru seen on screen. The story revolves around a young Peruvian woman named Kusi that travels to her extended family home in Peru to engage in the festivities and celebrations of her family and culture with traditional song and dance – her struggle comes in the form of having to acknowledge and grapple with having just lost her mother. Through the involvement of her family and the repairing of her emotional well-being, we see what lies in the acceptance of loss and the embrace and declaration of wanting to carry on one’s legacy. So much of this short film surprised me with it’s enrapturing visuals brought by the vibrant color and vivid location/atmosphere of the Peruvian experience on display with the set decoration and spectacular regalia wardrobes – each moments natural flow and engagement feels like you’re transported into the scenes themselves. There’s a great pleasure in watching the story unfold in what feels like a slight cinéma vérité style: raw authenticity matched with such emotion and storytelling unfolding with a grace and patience for the characters and the audience. I do actually believe this would make a great basis for an expanded feature (in my opinion), and I’m very interested in what the filmmakers have to offer up as their next feature; a film like this deserves to be seen as a great showcase on the grandest screen.    4/4 Seals!