Elisa Zulueta
Mercedes
Overview
After Chilean writer María Carolina Geel murders her lover, the case captivates shy legal secretary Mercedes, sparking a connection between the two women.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readA Room of One’s Own, Stolen
I kept waiting for the gunshot. Not the one that opens In Her Place—that comes early, a sharp crack in the hushed elegance of Santiago’s Hotel Crillón—but the one that should have echoed through the film itself. The one that would make sense of María Carolina Geel’s 1955 murder of her lover, or at least give us a reason to care beyond the historical curiosity.
Instead, Maite Alberdi’s first foray into fiction lingers in the quiet aftermath, where the real drama isn’t the crime but the way it ripples through the life of a woman who wasn’t even there.
That woman is Mercedes (Francisca Lewin), a mousy legal secretary whose existence is so circumscribed by routine that the mere act of stepping into Geel’s vacant apartment feels like a transgression. The film’s most striking sequence isn’t the murder or the trial, but Mercedes standing in the middle of that sunlit room, running her fingers over the dead woman’s things like a thief—or a devotee.
It’s a moment that begs to be read through Virginia Woolf’s famous dictum, and the film leans into the comparison hard. But where Woolf’s essay is a manifesto, In Her Place is more of a mood: a gauzy, unresolved longing for a space of one’s own, even if that space is borrowed, or stolen, or built on someone else’s violence.
Alberdi’s documentary roots are all over this film. The camera lingers on faces, on hands, on the small gestures that betray bigger emotions—Mercedes’ nervous habit of twisting her wedding ring, Geel’s (Elisa Zulueta) defiant tilt of the chin in court. There’s a tactile quality to the period detail, too: the stiff collars of 1950s Santiago, the way the light slants through the hotel’s tall windows, the scratchy texture of a secretary’s shorthand notebook.
But the shift to fiction exposes the seams. Documentaries thrive on the tension between what’s shown and what’s hidden; here, the gaps feel less like deliberate mystery and more like missed opportunities.
The film’s central gambit—focusing on Mercedes rather than Geel—is both its most interesting choice and its biggest liability. Alberdi has said she didn’t want to judge Geel, whose motives for the murder remain opaque even in the historical record. Fair enough.
But Mercedes, as written, is less a character than a vessel for the audience’s curiosity. She’s a cipher who exists to wander through Geel’s world, to sit in her chair, to try on her clothes. The problem isn’t that she’s passive; it’s that her passivity isn’t given enough weight.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.2/10
"A gripping yet uneven drama that shines in its emotional depth but stumbles with pacing and narrative clarity."
The film’s raw performances and intimate storytelling resonate strongly, drawing viewers into its complex characters and relationships. latestnetflix.com's view is that however, some find the pacing sluggish, and the plot’s ambiguity leaves others wanting more concrete resolution or direction.
What viewers praise
- Powerful performances The cast delivers deeply affecting portrayals, particularly the leads, whose emotional intensity anchors the film.
- Emotional depth The story’s exploration of personal and societal struggles feels authentic and thought-provoking.
- Atmospheric direction Maite Alberdi’s visual and narrative style creates a tense, immersive mood that lingers.
- Strong character dynamics The relationships between characters are compelling and add layers to the drama.
Common complaints
- Slow pacing Some viewers feel the film drags in places, testing their patience with its deliberate tempo.
- Ambiguous plot The narrative’s open-endedness frustrates those seeking clear answers or closure.
- Uneven tension While the atmosphere is gripping, the thriller elements don’t always deliver consistent suspense.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles often feel overshadowed or lack the depth needed to fully engage.
Recommended for
Drama enthusiasts Fans of character-driven stories Chilean cinema lovers Slow-burn narrative seekers Emotional storytelling fans
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsMaite Alberdi’s Bold Leap Into Fiction: The True-Crime Drama Behind In Her Place
Chilean director Maite Alberdi is no stranger to intimate storytelling. Known for her award-winning documentaries like The Mole Agent (2020), Alberdi has built a reputation for exploring human connections in small, often overlooked worlds 
. But with In Her Place (2024), she steps into uncharted territory: fiction. latestnetflix.com's view is that the film, Chile’s official Oscar submission, marks Alberdi’s first foray into narrative filmmaking—and the transition hasn’t been seamless.
A True Story That Shocked Chile
In Her Place is based on the real-life 1955 murder case of María Carolina Geel, a writer and feminist icon who shot her lover at Santiago’s Crillón Hotel. The crime sent shockwaves through Chilean society, not just for its brutality but for Geel’s defiant courtroom demeanor. The film stars Elisa Zulueta as Geel and Francisca Lewin as her fictionalized confidante, weaving a period drama that blends crime, psychology, and feminist defiance .
The case itself was a media sensation. Geel, a progressive voice in women’s rights, refused to conform to societal expectations of remorse, turning her trial into a platform for her beliefs. The film leans into this tension, framing the murder as both a personal tragedy and a radical act . But how faithfully does it capture the real events? The evidence suggests a loose adaptation—Alberdi’s signature character-driven approach remains, but the shift to fiction introduces creative liberties.
Alberdi’s Awkward Transition to Fiction
Critics have been divided on In Her Place. Deadline called it a "delightfully skittish take on a strange but true crime story," praising its offbeat tone 
. Variety, however, was less forgiving, labeling Alberdi’s move into fiction "surprisingly awkward." The review suggests that while her documentary roots shine in the film’s intimate character studies, the narrative structure feels uneven—perhaps a sign of growing pains in a new genre 
.
This isn’t the first time Alberdi has blurred the line between fact and fiction. Her documentaries often employ cinematic techniques to heighten emotional truth, but In Her Place is her first fully scripted project. The cast—including Gabriel Urzúa, Marcial Tagle, and Pablo Macaya—brings a mix of dramatic weight and dark humor, but the film’s pacing and tone have left some critics scratching their heads .
Behind the Scenes: A Director’s Gamble
Alberdi’s decision to tackle Geel’s story was likely personal. The director has long been drawn to outsiders and societal outcasts, and Geel’s unapologetic defiance fits neatly into that theme. But the leap from documentary to period drama is a risky one. The film’s production details remain scarce, but the evidence hints at a deliberate stylistic shift. Where Alberdi’s documentaries thrive on raw, observational realism, In Her Place embraces a more theatrical, almost surreal tone—particularly in its courtroom scenes .
The cast’s chemistry has been a bright spot. Zulueta, in particular, has been singled out for her portrayal of Geel, capturing the writer’s mix of vulnerability and steel. Lewin’s role as a fictionalized ally adds a layer of emotional depth, though some critics argue the film struggles to balance its historical weight with its fictional inventions .
Oscar Buzz and What’s Next
As Chile’s Oscar entry, In Her Place has already generated buzz, though its chances in the International Feature Film category remain uncertain. Alberdi’s reputation as a documentarian could work in its favor, but the film’s mixed reviews suggest it’s a long shot .
For Alberdi, the project is a stepping stone. Whether she returns to documentaries or doubles down on fiction remains to be seen, but In Her Place proves she’s willing to take risks. The film’s true legacy may lie in its exploration of Geel’s story—a tale of crime, feminism, and defiance that still resonates nearly 70 years later.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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