Lacrima • SIFA 2026

When the Princess of England announces her engagement, a prestigious Parisian haute couture fashion house receives an extraordinary commission, leading to a captivating story that spans continents and generations. Renowned theater maker Caroline Guiela Nguyen transforms the stage into a lively workshop in this expansive play about the artisans behind the garments we admire.

Bound by a vow of complete secrecy, craftspeople worldwide dedicate eight months to the meticulous creation of a single wedding dress. Marion, the overburdened head seamstress at Maison Beliana, grapples with difficult questions from her troubled daughter, while Thérése, a lacemaker from Alençon, confronts a complex family history. Meanwhile, in Mumbai, master embroiderer Abdul attaches 1,000 roses to duchesse satin as his eyesight quickly declines. As these individuals push themselves to the brink in their quest for perfection, Lacrima explores the delicate balance between what destroys us and what gives our lives meaning.

Lacrima gives off the essence of illusion, in an era gone-by, a thorough turn of events, that is both dramatic yet reflective, on every-day life, the struggles of each family, in the context of their tasks at hand, on stress management and the inability to herald one's fortune based on their own temperament and personality. The essence of lace-making is learnt and shared throughout the performance; a series of timed movement is anticipated at each turn of events, during the showcase; a true depiction of inherent family issues, of difficult parents and troublesome children, and in the middle of it all, the love that is contained within; those of an inherited social value, depicted through the lens of modern societal problems and the effect of tolerance and perseverance, yet so endearing at all moments!

What a great performance!

Rosette Media Art Performance Rating : 8.6/10