Storyville: Inheriting the Castle, airing on BBC Four on 2 July 2024, presents an intriguing tale of an indigenous Argentinian woman, Justina, who, at 60, embarks on a new chapter in an inherited mansion.
Her former employer bequeaths her a grand yet dilapidated mansion in the Argentine Pampas as a token of appreciation for her years of service as a maid. The sole stipulation is that the property cannot be sold. Justina seizes this opportunity to relocate from the city to the countryside with her 20-year-old lesbian daughter, Alexia.
Together, they navigate life in this isolated yet amazing setting.
The documentary film, reminiscent of the 1975 American documentary Grey Gardens by the Maysles Brothers, paints a poignant and atmospheric portrait of a mother-daughter duo whose lives are deeply intertwined with their indigenous heritage and social class in a Europeanized Argentinian society. It offers a unique glimpse into their day-to-day struggles and the unbreakable bond that sustains them.
Justina and Alexia’s embrace the challenges of maintaining a large estate, finding innovative ways to make a living, and creating a life for themselves in this desolate yet enchanting paradise.
Storyville: Inheriting the Castle airs on BBC Four, Tuesday, 2 July 2024, at 10:00 pm.
