Videophilia (and Other Viral Syndromes)

Sometimes you come across films that are difficult to describe. Videophilia (and Other Viral Syndromes) is definitely such a film. The Peruvian psychodrama crosses over into David Cronenberg-esque body horror, experimental video art, bad-trip psychedelic eroticism, combined with touches of vintage internet graphic, generating a weird and unpleasant vibe.

We meet the teenage outcast Luz, who spends her days skipping classes, chatting online and experimenting with drugs. During cybersex she gets to know Junior, whose interests include production and distribution of amateur porn, Mayan death culture, conspiracy theories and heavy partying while wearing cosplay costumes. They live out their fantasies with each other online, before they decide to meet in person. The lovebirds have a downright absurd journey ahead of them.

In parallel to this, a man films himself killing his housemaid, while an ominous computer virus contributes as a narrator throughout the film's narrative. Videophilia is exclusively filmed with a handheld camera, with crooked angles, packed with glitchy, choppy graphics, underscoring the deeply disturbing mood. Not a film for everyone, but for those who fancy an avant-garde film experience loaded with nightmarish visions – Videophilia is where it's at!

Juan Daniel F. Molero (b. 1987) from Lima in Peru, was among the directors at Berlinale Talent Campus 2011. He has directed the feature film Reminiscencias (2010) and the short film Imagenotfound (2013), as well as curating several film festivals. International Film Festival Rotterdam gave Videophilia (and Other Viral Syndromes) the Tiger Award in 2015.