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The film “Tango en Penumbras” (Tango in Twilight) by Doctor Teresa Mular (Argentina, 2024) will be screened as a national première on the occasion of the XV Florence Biennale (Fortezza da Basso, Florence, 18-26 October 2025), themed “The Sublime Essence of Light and Darkness. Concepts of Dualism and Unity in Contemporary Art and Design”. Following the presentation of “Can’t Stop the Sun from Shining” at the XIII Florence Biennale in 2021, Teresa returns this year with her new work, completed in 2024. So far, it has received multiple nominations and awards in Tokyo, Brazil and the United States.

In this film, Teresa takes us on a journey into the life of a 74-year-old chemist who, at the age of 28, tragically lost his sight—presumably due to a prank that has gone awry at a postgraduate party. While the prank is speculated to be the cause, there remains a possibility that glaucoma was the actual underlying condition. After decades of living in darkness, a serendipitous attempt at tango becomes a beam of light, illuminating his world in ways he never imagined. His fascination with tango’s movements and music is both passionate and hauntingly captivating. Each step brings him joy and hope, filling him with newfound self-confidence, self-respect, and a sense of self-worth.

Issues such as the struggles of underprivileged groups, women, and minorities have long been central themes in Teresa’s work. “Tango en Penumbras” continues this focus but,  this time, shifts from depicting a collective experience to an intimate portrait of an individual who, despite facing physical impairment, develops optimism and builds inner strength through rediscovery of an enthusiasm.

Reflecting on the theme of the XV Florence Biennale, Teresa employs her distinctive storytelling approach to explore the dichotomy between light and darkness, followed by the duality of the visible and the invisible. Through this, she challenges the notion that sight is the only path to experiencing beauty or attaining physical and spiritual fulfilment.

The Director

Doctor Teresa Mular is a well-regarded independent filmmaker, writer, and producer born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was raised and educated there, earning her medical degree at the age of 23. After graduation,  she moved to New York where she embarked on a 34 year career in teaching and practicing Obstetrics and Gynecology, before embarking on her second career in cinematography in 2009. Her exceptional talent and deep commitment to storytelling quickly gained national and international recognition. Her debut film, “Flying on the Wings of Time (2011)”, was screened at the Florence XXXIV International Women’s Film Festival in 2012 and later won Best Foreign Language Documentary at the International Cinema Awards in Milan (2018). Over the years, she has produced more than 10 works, including films, documentaries, and comedies, receiving accolades across America, Europe, and Asia. Notably, in 2021, she was invited as the Guest of Honour at the Florence Biennale, where her film “Can’t Stop the Sun from Shining” was awarded the Lorenzo Il Magnifico Gold Medal.

Credits & Cast

Director and writer: Doctor Teresa Mular

Production company: From Doc to Doc Films

Cast: Miguel Angel Rebert

Editor: José Venutolo, Luz Zamora