20/12/2023 - Miguel Eek leads us to a woodland refuge where a group of adult males delve into the events that have left a mark on their lives, as they seek to construct a new form of masculinity

We cannot deny that we are living in revolutionary times. Antiquated ideas that once seemed set in stone are proving to be obsolete, and new ways of conceiving of the world, having been subdued for way too long, are now reclaiming their rightful place. The new feminist wave is probably the phenomenon that best represents this: millions of women are raising their voices, and proudly putting their bodies and minds on display in order to put an end to the multiple instances of abuse they are forced to contend with on a daily basis, simply because they are women. And of course, on the other end of this are men, some of whom are confused, while others are open and willing to be part of the change, with still others enraged and unable to understand what is going on at all. The quest to gain women’s rights is forcing men to renounce many of the privileges that their masculine condition implies, even today. And that’s in addition to something more significant and painful: facing up to the idea of masculinity that has been instilled in many of us. According to this idea, there is no room for any sensitivity, tenderness or vulnerability. The protagonists of Burden, a documentary by Miguel Eek, are all confronting this. In it, we see a group of men who withdraw to a country house to involve themselves in all sorts of dynamics, with the aim of exorcising the alpha male they all carry around within them and discovering a new way of being a man.

Eek’s camera slips into the intimate moments of this group, whose members, for several days and enveloped in the beauty of the forest, dare to explore the deepest corners of their souls. Through different exercises that may seem a tad bizarre to the viewer, the protagonists all explore events from their past that have made a mark on their way of existing, of understanding themselves as men and of relating to their surroundings. And so, for just over an hour, we witness a portrait of masculinity that is far removed from the most classical archetypes. In this film, there is no room for hard-as-nails heroes or roguish lotharios. Here, there are only real men who strip away all of the social conventions on masculinity in order to expose the most traumatic episodes in their lives and attempt to heal. The characters’ testimonies are harsh: they broach topics such as paternal abandonment and sexual abuse, and it is an emotional experience to watch this group of adult males consoling, listening to and understanding each other. Together, they build a safe space in which vulnerability is the norm or something to aspire to, rather than a sign of weakness that can be made fun of.

The film manages to bring us deeper into this unusual place, where a group of men lay themselves bare emotionally and physically, but without ever feeling intrusive at any time. The protagonists appear to behave as if nobody were observing them; they open up completely, apparently unafraid of being judged by future viewers of their transformation process. It’s a process that’s beautiful, but also painful and uncomfortable, to watch. The emotions offered by The Burden are intense and contradictory. It’s frustrating to see just how deep the wounds of some of the protagonists go, but it’s also heartening to see their sensitivity as they listen to and support one another. A far cry from the cocky and confrontational men that cinema has shown us time and time again, here, we see a group of equals who fearlessly explore their emotions, who prove to be physically close, and even sensual at times. All of this culminates in the construction of relationships where respect and love win out over absurd rivalries and cruel violence.

Burden is a Mosaic Producciones production and will be available to watch in Spain on Filmin.

(Translated from Spanish)