As I delve into the captivating narratives of these remarkable individuals and their profound stories, I am left in awe at the resilience and strength that each one embodies. Each film presents a unique perspective on life, love, and struggle, showcasing the indomitable spirit that lies within us all.
At Ventana Docs, a showcase of 12 documentary features spanning Latin America and Spain, two films – “Quinografía,” a biographical portrait of the shy Mafalda comic creator Quino, and “Habana Libre,” depicting the spirit of rebellious youth in Cuba – seem promising contenders for attention.
Several works have been created in prominent research facilities, such as those featured in the Sundance Festival (e.g., “Bleeding Heart,” “Violent-House-Fiction”) or Spain’s Pompeu Fabra University. Among these, two projects explore trans narratives (“I Believe,” “Yren”). These pieces delve into themes of resistance and intolerance, issues that also resonate in other Ventana Sur productions.
Several narratives revolve around the director’s experiences, such as his struggle against HIV (in “How to Live With…”), rekindling his relationship with his father (in “Capitan”), and grappling with his father’s suicide (in “The Curve”). Some stories intertwine personal tales with broader political contexts, like “Violent-House-Fiction” and “Family Politics,” where the director reconciles with his family while his father campaigns for office, representing the former dictator Alberto Fujimori’s right-wing Cambio 90 party.
Approximately one-third of this document’s content is jointly produced with Spain, quickly becoming an ideal collaborator for Latin American projects, be they fictional stories or factual accounts.
A drill-down on titles:
“Bleeding Heart,” (Antonio Romero Zurita, Ecuador)
In my perspective as a movie reviewer, this film is a profound exploration of Elena’s life story, pieced together from her personal archives and heartfelt testimonies. It delves into the painful silences within her family and the pervasive societal stigma surrounding AIDS, offering a poignant insight into her illness and untimely demise in 2013.
“Capitan,” Laura Otálora Pardo (Colombia, Spain)
In this documentary, Playlab Films and Tomato Content collaborate to tell the story of Efrén, a sailor who now resides in an Alzheimer’s facility. Notably, Efrén is also the director Laura Otálora Pardo’s father, making this film a deeply personal account of their reconnection. This project has previously garnered recognition such as the FDC Development Grant in Colombia, best project at DokLab Nabarra, and the public award at Punto de Vista Pitch. The next destination for this moving tale is the Miradas Festival in Medellín, which begins today.
“The Curve,” Agustin Flores, (Uruguay, Spain)
This documentary, titled “Jorge Firpo’s Retirement: A Dual Journey,” is a joint production between Uruguay’s Trapecistas Producciones and Spain’s Zona Cielo Films and Insumisa Films. It tells two interconnected stories: the first being about Jorge Firpo, a renowned horse trainer who decides to retire after a lifetime of creating champions; and the second story revolves around the director, as he grapples with the aftermath of his father’s suicide. This compelling piece has been chosen for the Editorial Support Laboratory (LABED) at Barcelona’s Pompeu Fabra University, which is Spain’s premier platform for documentary development.
“Emergency Measures,” (André Bomfim, Brazil)
I had the privilege of witnessing a powerful documentary about the Maria da Penha Patrol based in Maceió, Brazil. This dedicated team is on a mission to disrupt the vicious cycle of violence against women, safeguarding victims who are often in grave danger. Bomfilm highlights that, under female leadership, this Patrol has never let down a single woman they’ve sworn to protect. Yet, he emphasizes that maintaining such a goal is an enormous challenge in a society and institution marred by sexism. This compelling film was produced at Mirafilmes in São Paulo, part of DocSP 2023, where it won the Chile Conecta Award.
“Family Politics,” Martín Rebaza Ponce de León (Peru)
This movie, jointly produced by La Unión Cine and Animalita Cine, narrates the tale of Martin, a filmmaker residing in Germany, who goes back to the Peruvian Amazon to reestablish ties with his family amidst his father’s political campaign as a candidate for Alberto Fujimori’s former right-wing party Cambio 90, seeking office as a representative. The movie was funded in part by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture and received the FICVIÑA Award at the Lima International Film Festival in 2023.
“Habana Libre,” Lina María Rivera (Colombia)
This documentary showcases three youthful skateboarders in Havana, Cuba as they strive for freedom and personal satisfaction by transforming symbolic monuments into skate parks. The narrative delves into unrealized aspirations and daily acts of rebellion that challenge the social and economic limitations in Cuba. Cineopia Art House, known for blending genres and styles, is behind the production of this documentary, which promises to break free from traditional norms.
“How to Live With…,” (Luisa García Alva, Peru)
A project with roots dating back to 2016, initially guided by Hernán Musaluppi for García Alva. It was recently showcased at the Mañana WIPs segment of Lima Fest. This personal work chronicles the director’s journey, from receiving an HIV diagnosis to navigating life with HIV in today’s world. The first feature film by Projazz, a budding Peruvian production company.
“I Believe,” Florencia Wehbe (Argentina)
In predominantly Catholic Argentina, the enigmatic figure of the Virgin of La Rosa Mística is said to have appeared within the household of trans woman, María Belén Ochoa, a resident from a village in Córdoba who made history as the first trans mother in Argentina in 2010 following a divine visitation in her dreams. Filmmakers María Dolores Chaig and Darío Mascambroni document this extraordinary story for Lumina.
“Quinografía,”(Mariano Donoso y Federico Cardone, Argentina, Spain)
Among Ventana Docs’ most significant commercial offerings is a documentary titled “Portrait of Quino,” focusing on the reclusive cartoonist renowned for creating Mafalda, translated into 30 languages. This production is filmed in six languages across four countries. It is jointly produced by Argentina’s Curandero Producciones and Spain’s El Gatoverde Producciones, with Spanish public broadcaster TVE taking it up. As producer Ciro Néstor Novelli explains, the documentary includes “a range of dialogue sequences suitable for airing on broadcast platforms throughout Latin America.
“Vicissitudes of Light,” Marcel Beltrán (Cuba)
The controversial perspective on Cuba during the revolution presented by Beltrán has gained support from Go Cuba! World Cinema Amsterdam, Norwegian Fun for Cuban Cinema, Miradas Doc in Spain, and DocsMX in Mexico. Through the genius, suppression, and madness of Chinolope, a photographer both revered and condemned by the Cuban authorities, the film portrays the interactions and confusions within the artist’s confined living space as the revolution he recognized crumbled beyond its boundaries.
“Violent-House-Fiction,” María Ruiz García, (Venezuela, Spain)
This innovative documentary merges fact and fantasy to depict the tragic loss of a director’s grandparents’ home in Caracas, an incident characterized by violence, intimidation, police corruption, and extortion. Created by Dos Margaritas, hailing from Margarita Island, Venezuela.
A hunt at the abyss in Valencia, Spain, was processed during a workshop led by David Finch and Maya Cueva as part of Sundance Collab.
“Yren,” Tania Cattebeke Laconich (Paraguay)
Pororó Films is creating a documentary about trans activist Yren Rotela, who lives in conservative Paraguay where the average lifespan for a transgender individual is roughly 35 years. Yren and her fellow advocates are striving to achieve self-sufficiency for Casa Diversa, the only shelter in the nation catering to the LGBTQ+ community. In its developmental stage, this film has already been shown at the Malaga Festival, the Latino GuadaLAjara Film Festival, and the Austin Film Society this year.
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2024-11-20 23:18