As the 22nd San Diego Latino Film Festival moves into its mid-fest screenings, the festival promises something for everyone with buzz, busts and breakouts.
This year’s festival finds itself trying out a new home in the AMC Fashion Valley 18.
The festival is looking forward to an expanded venue and community partnership with some of the larger merchants in the Fashion Valley space, according to executive director Ethan Van Thillo.
"It is an effort to increase the visibility of one of the nation’s oldest and longest-running Latino film festivals as well as connect SDLFF goers with a larger space," Van Thillo said.
So far, the festival has been attracting good turnouts with sell-out screenings for “El Americano,” an animated feature starring James Edward Olmos and “Visitantes,” starring Kate del Castillo. Both Olmos and del Castillo have been at the festival, proving to be major draws on the days they have come.
Buzz has been growing for several films, including del Castillo’s haunting thriller, “Visitantes.” In turns startling and edgy, this Mexican tale of hauntings and dark spirits is tightly edited, moving the story toward a surprising twist.
Another film that has been popular with families is "The Boy and the World,” an animated entry from Brazil with relatively little dialog but long on gorgeous visuals that pull viewers in as Cuca, the young hero, moves through an ever-more detailed world. Deceptively simple in concept, nonetheless, this animated feature offers a multi-layered look the conflicts between city and country, development and underdevelopment that allows many ages to engage with the story.
Although Viggo Mortensen’s “Juaja” has been a much awaited film from Argentina, the film itself is a bit of a disappointment.
“Juaja” follows a Danish father and daughter who move to the edges of the Argentine desert in Patagonia in the mid-19th century. The story plays second fiddle to the gorgeous and detailed cinematography, yet never seems to go much of anywhere except in bursts of action that ultimately can’t seem to hold your attention beyond the next sand dune.
Another gorgeous film where cinematography holds the story hostage is “Las Busquedas” from Mexico. The story itself is not bad. A man's wallet — containing the only pictures of his murdered wife and child — is stolen on a train. Simultaneously, in another scene, a woman walks into the patio to find her husband dead in an apparent suicide. The two grieving characters eventually meet and a sort of bond of sorrow and survival brings them together.
Shot in under two weeks and with a micro-budget, the black and white cinematography is stunning with unexpected angles and beautiful deep shadows. Sadly, the story is less carefully crafted.
Looking forward to the end of the week, several exciting screenings hold a lot of promise.
The San Diego documentary, “Chaldean Voices,” had a sell-out crowd Monday and is scheduled for an encore screening later this week. The documentary follows several Chaldean Iraqi high schoolers in their journey to negotiate a new society and political system.
Another documentary that has done well is the story of Mahoma Lopez, a shy, undocumented sandwich maker turned activist who helps his co-workers unite against abusive treatment in the workplace. Set in New York, “That Hand That Feeds” is a timely commentary on employment practices and wage debates happening around the country.
Sure to sell out is the Mexican feature on the Mexican pop-rock singer, Gloria Trevi. Simply titled, “Gloria,” the film depicts both Trevi’s amazing singing career and her equally jaw-dropping walk on the wild side that found her accused of kidnapping, drug abuse, corruption of minors and briefly jailed in Brazil. Trevi originally opposed the bio pic, but eventually made up with the producers, going so far as to appear at a recent premiere.
Not to miss are the shorts programs which are especially strong this year. “Hecho in USA,” takes a wide look at the U.S.-Latino experience, ranging from “La Noche Buena,” a timely short that follows a second generation Cuban back to Cuba to “Ni Aqui, Ni Alla,” an equally timely piece on an undocumented sophomore at UC Berkeley. “Cronicas Espanolas” is a collection of some of the best shorts to come out of Spain in several years. With themes running from a slice of life in the story of “Lila” who draws the world the ways she sees it to the odd but fitting twist in the life of a debt collector in “Te Eschucho.”
The San Diego Latino Film Festival continues through March 22. For information on times and dates, check out schedule.
