It deals with my own blood, my inheritance’: Asia Argento on historical trauma in Death Has No Master | Cannes film festival

The Evolution of Land Ownership: From Colonial Deeds to Moral Claims

For centuries, the concept of land ownership has been anchored in legal titles and deeds—often remnants of colonial eras where “discovery” and “conquest” dictated who owned what. However, as seen in the thematic tension of Death Has No Master, we are entering an era where legal ownership is increasingly clashing with moral and historical legitimacy.

The trend is shifting toward land restitution. Globally, we are seeing a surge in movements where indigenous populations and descendants of displaced peoples are challenging Western legal frameworks to reclaim ancestral territories. This isn’t just about property; it’s about correcting historical violence.

The Rise of Restorative Land Justice

From the Amazon rainforest to the highlands of Scotland, the “Right to Roam” and indigenous land claims are gaining traction. Case studies in Canada and Australia show a growing trend of “co-management” agreements, where government bodies and indigenous groups share authority over land, acknowledging that legal title doesn’t always equal moral ownership.

As geopolitical instability increases—particularly in regions like Venezuela—the fragility of these legal titles becomes apparent. When governments collapse or shift violently, the “use of force” often replaces the “rule of law,” returning land ownership to a primal state of occupation.

Processing the “Collective Darkness”: Surrealism as a Tool for Trauma

Traditional linear storytelling often fails to capture the chaos of political collapse or deep-seated personal trauma. Here’s why we are seeing a resurgence of surrealist cinema and “elevated horror” in modern storytelling. When the world feels like a nightmare, surrealism becomes the most honest way to depict it.

The trend is moving toward “atmospheric storytelling,” where the environment acts as a character. In these narratives, the setting—be it a decaying mansion or a thundering oil refinery—serves as a physical manifestation of the character’s internal state.

The “A24 Effect” and the New Psychological Thriller

The success of studios like A24 has primed audiences for films that blur the line between reality and hallucination. We are seeing a trend where the “haunted house” trope is being repurposed to explore intergenerational trauma. The ghost is no longer a monster in the attic, but the weight of a father’s abuse or a nation’s bloody history.

This mirrors the influence of giallo films from the 1970s—characterized by vivid colors and psychological instability—which are seeing a revival as filmmakers seek to visualize anxiety and dread in a high-tension global climate.

The Inheritance of Trauma: Beyond the Family Tree

We are moving away from viewing trauma as a purely individual experience. The emerging trend in both psychology and art is the exploration of epigenetics—the idea that trauma can be passed down through generations biologically and behaviorally.

When characters in modern thrillers struggle with an “infantile ego” or an unspoken fear of their origins, they are reflecting a broader societal trend: the struggle to reconcile with a problematic lineage. Whether it is the legacy of a famous parent or the legacy of a colonial ancestor, the “inheritance” is often a psychological burden that requires a violent or surreal reckoning to resolve.

The Blurring of Fiction and Documentary

Another key trend is the rise of autofiction. Filmmakers and writers are increasingly blending their own lived experiences with fictionalized narratives to process grief and political betrayal. By blurring these boundaries, creators can explore “parallel histories,” allowing them to intellectualize trauma that is otherwise “unspeakable.”

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