For the Latine community to finally feel like we are getting proper representation in the media, we have to see all the versions of our stories. That means, even the messy and the complicated stories deserve to be told.
When Director Rodrigo Reyes worked as a Spanish criminal interpreter in a small town in California, he met Sansón. Sansón was an undocumented Mexican immigrant who was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Through a series of letters, Sansón and Rodrigo get to know each other and eventually Sansón gives Rodrigo permission to tell his story in the form of a film. Sansón and Me blends genres; it is part documentary and part reenactments that were portrayed by Sansón’s own family members. The film is honest in a way that sometimes feel uncomfortable, but that’s also the beauty of it.
You can’t ignore the fact that this film came to be because Sansón was convicted of a crime, though the film struggles to get the truth of the events, it definitely did occur and Sansón was present when it did. This is a story for the people born with obstacles at their feet. It’s for the people that are a product of terrible circumstances and have to actively fight to survive another day. It’s not an easy story to tell and Rodrigo doesn’t shy away from admitting that, not only in the film, but directly to Sansón in the letters he writes to him. They get through the complicated though because everyone involved knows how necessary it is to tell this story. The heart of the film is definitely the letters shared between Sansón and Rodrigo Reyes, their growing friendship has layers that could only be portrayed by rereading the words in those letters throughout the film.
This film accidentally revealed an issue that I have found when consuming true crime content. Now, of course this isn’t what Sansón and Me is about, but follow me as I try to make sense of my point. There is a letter that is read in the film where Sansón is second-guessing himself in wanting his story to be told. Not only is he having to relive so much of his traumatic life but he’s also putting his family through having to relive their trauma. He doesn’t think it’s fair and he plays with the idea of putting an end to the entire project. This is a sentiment I often feel when watching true crime content, the way we force people to relive their trauma for our consumption feels exploitive. However, it’s Rodrigo’s reaction to Sansón that confirms that this film was made in good faith. He comforts Sansón, reminds him of the reasons why they’re doing this and affirms that his family wants to help amplify his story. He gives him space to second-guess and doesn’t push to keep going; he leads with empathy and that makes all the difference here.
Sansón and Me is a necessary watch, it’s a story that is unfortunately very common but we rarely get to hear about. If this movie comes to a theater near you, please go watch it.
San Francisco, CA: Roxie Theater, opens March 17
Los Angeles, CA: Laemmle Theatres, Monday and Tuesday, March 20 and 21
Memphis, TN: Indie Memphis, March 22
Los Angeles, CA: American Cinematheque, March 24
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