‘Belén’s Dolores Fonzi & Julieta Cardinali On Pushing Past Fear To Tell Story On Women’s Rights

Dolores Fonzi & Julieta Cardinali of 'Belén' join Deadline to discuss the making of a film rooted in a real and deeply unsettling case from Argentina, where a woman was imprisoned following a miscarriage. Director, writer, and star Dolores Fonzi speaks candidly about transforming a true story into a cinematic experience that balances political urgency with humanity, addressing themes of women’s bodily autonomy, state violence, sexism, and systemic injustice. Fonzi reflects on her “fearless” approach to the film, the challenge of condensing years of activism and legal struggle into a feature-length narrative, and her commitment to honoring both the real case and the broader women’s movement that fought for change.

The conversation also features Julieta Díaz, who takes on the difficult role of representing institutional injustice, and offers insight into portraying a character without judgment. Together, the team dives into some of the film’s most challenging scenes—from intense courtroom monologues filmed under extreme conditions to the creative decision to shift focus from the anonymous victim to the lawyer whose life was forever changed by the case. As Argentina’s Oscar submission, 'Belén' stands as both a gripping film and a call to reflection, asking audiences to confront what it means to criminalize obstetric emergencies and why telling these stories now matters more than ever.

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