This past weekend, I was lucky enough to attend the Hola Mexico Film Festival in Los Angeles and I cannot wait to tell you about the amazing films that I was able to watch.
Nos Fuimos a Penales is a documentary about how former World Cup players have dedicated so many years to bringing soccer to Mexico’s prisons. The humanization of the inmates is what truly stands about this film. Their crimes, though relevant, is not what makes the stories of the inmates worth telling. It’s their heart and dedication that truly stands out. The program not only affects their life behind bars but it all trickles down to their family. Every visit from the soccer players brings them a taste of freedom and for many of them, it’s the one thing they have to look forward to. This film was exemplary and did a wonderful job at showcasing how sports focused programs can reduce violence and I hope it helps expand this program to more prisons.
El Equipo del Pueblo, is a documentary about the soccer team, Atlante. A love letter, to their story and a dedication to the fans that have stayed loyal to the team since 1916. The film was a cohesive look at how the team was founded and how they’ve persevered throughout the decades. Though admittedly, a bit repetitive in its messaging, there’s no denying that the film’s dedication to the team is spread throughout the entire film.
Las Mutaciones hit me like a freight train. When a man discovers that he has a tumor on his tongue and that they’ll need to cut his tongue out in order to get rid of it, his life stops immediately. A devastating look at how cancer will sometimes take bits and pieces of you until you are only a shell of the person you once were. The film in its entirety was devastatingly beautiful but my favorite part was how it found a way to make the housekeeper, Elodia, a central character. Actress Monica del Carmen, played her so perfectly that she somehow became the perfect subtle comedic relief throughout the film. The film is about grief, illness and about relationships that make the devastating a little more bearable.
Corina is the story of an agoraphobic editor that finds her freedom. Set in the year 2000, this story is about the resilience that so many people with trauma must live with. It showcased how mother/daughter relationships can sometimes become codependent and still found a way to allow enough levity to garner a few laughs from the audience. This is not the story about how the girl gets the guy, but it is an added bonus to the film. The chemistry between Corina (Naian Gonzalez) and Carlos (Cristo Fernandez) felt palpable, their scenes looked like an intimate dance and we were all better for having witnessed them together. It’s a story of resilience, bravery and how big the world can be if you allow yourself to exist to your fullest. In the words of the Directors, “If you do things with an open heart and all your being; the results can be amazing.”
Hola Mexico Film Festival plays the rest of the week and you can get tickets here.
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