YOLANDA CORRALES TALKS PALM TREES AND POWERLINES

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

Good art is all about making people feel something and the emotions that this film brings up are so visceral. It's a beautifully made film, but also deeply unsettling?

As you say, I had a hard time watching this upfront, sometimes it was almost painful, but I would say necessary. At the same time, I enjoyed the great cinematography, and as an actress, I could imagine the alchemy between the two actors and the director in creating this magic. As I knew about the subject of the movie, I really wanted to be part of it. It’s something about vulnerability in a woman probably created by patriarchy, which may lead us to an abusive relationship. I have to admit that I’ve been there, but I’ve learned how important it is to built a supportive community. As a teenage girl I can’t imagine, that's the most painful part, she's so young and it doesn’t look like a good ending in any way. Being on set is one of my favorite places and especially with a script like this. Everything makes more sense when I contribute to a project that makes me feel a fire inside of me and that I can make a change or to help someone, a vulnerable teenager, for example.

While still premiering at Sundance, the actual festival got cancelled this year. Quite suddenly as well. Instead only getting a virtual digital event replacing it. That must have been really disappointing?

It was certainly hard. As artists during the pandemic, we are faced with many cancellations and a lack of projects and the fear of our future. This cancellation was also part of it, but we moved forward for the next best things to happen.

When did acting get into the picture for you?

Acting was always in my mind, but I fully committed to dancing for a long period, I thought it was something that I wanted to do when my body was young. Then I got a couple of hard physical injuries, one after the other, and I felt it was the moment to shift into acting. I filmed a commercial when I was twelve years old and this was my first experience on set. I think it was a mix between the joy I experienced and how easy it seemed to me.

You for a time worked as a flamenco dancer?

Yes, I did, I studied Spanish dance at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid and flamenco was one of the main signatures. I got my first job at the age of eighteen and it was a one-year contract in Japan. I believe this was the beginning of everything, from a student to a professional dancer.

When was your first time on a theatre stage?

At the end of my first year at the dancing school, we had a festival and it was in an amazing theater in the center of Madrid called Alcalá Palace Theater. I was so little. But I remember how happy I felt, it was like magic for me.

Having acted for as long as you now have, do you think you still to this day are learning and refining your craft?

Oh, yes, of course. I learn every time I get a new part, a new character to study, a new audition. I'm still taking classes, learning new techniques, knowing new teachers. For me, the knowledge is never-ending. I hope so and to be honest, I think so too, or I wouldn’t keep going.

What’s your current dream role?

My dream role, that’s a good question. As an artist my whole life, there are things like racism, homophobia, patriarchy and so on that make me feel a revolution inside of me. I would like to play the role of a strong woman who represents that we humans are more than those tags and there is a point of union between us no matter skin color, race, gender, or sexual orientation between them.