Prepare to immerse yourself in The End of Times (El fin de los tiempos), an intriguing Colombian feature directed by Bibiana Rojas Gómez and Juan David Cárdenas Maldonado. This film utilizes a combination of found footage and artificial intelligence to delve into themes of trauma and depression, aiming to bring a political dimension to the conversation around mental health. It will make its world debut as part of the competition lineup at the Venice Critics’ Week, a notable independent segment of the Venice Film Festival, on September 10.
The co-directors take on multiple roles; Cárdenas Maldonado penned the screenplay while also collaborating on cinematography, and Rojas Gómez took charge of editing. The film's sales are being managed by Split Screen.
The film's unsettling title raises questions about its content. The narrative follows Salomé as she sifts through decades of family footage to uncover the roots of her mother’s sorrow. In her quest to envision alternative narratives for her mother, Salomé discovers that they all lead back to depression and a profound sense of discomfort, set against a backdrop where envisioning the apocalypse feels more attainable than imagining the end of capitalism.
Through the lens of AI, Salomé grapples with the challenging task of envisioning a world where her mother could find meaning and fulfillment.
The filmmakers comment on the present era: “Our society has celebrated the notion of a technological utopia, and the most current interpretation of that vision is artificial intelligence. However, like past technological advancements, the allure of progress is often tainted by greed, exploitation, and suffering. From the perspective of marginalized nations, burdened by underdevelopment and reduced to a cheap labor force, AI reveals some of its darkest realities."
The directors elaborate further: “This film highlights a stark truth: the triumphs of human progress often come with a price—a barbarism that dominates under contemporary capitalism or neoliberalism, leading to widespread physical and emotional fatigue. In such a climate, depression has emerged as a prevalent ailment, not just as a medical condition but as a societal reaction to existing material, economic, and political challenges.”
Rojas Gómez and Cárdenas Maldonado conclude, “Our aim is to encourage discourse on the politicization of mental illness. When envisioning a better future appears implausible, sadness frequently becomes the most pervasive means of adaptation.”
If you're intrigued and eager for more, check out the exclusive trailer available through THR. The eerie visuals alongside the intriguing dialogue will undoubtedly reveal much more than words can convey about The End of Times.
