—Three brothers confront adult reality when they care for their 93-year-old grandmother—
Diego is a young circus artist living away from his family in a dull landscape of tourist beaches and all-inclusive resorts when he is suddenly called to return home. His grandmother, América, fell from her bed, causing his father to be jailed under accusation of elder neglect.
Diego sees poetry and purpose in this tragedy. He believes that América, despite her immobility and advanced dementia, fell willfully, to bring a separated family back together. He reunites with his estranged brothers and leaves his old life behind.
But now they face the considerable challenges of learning to care for América while navigating an opaque court system bereft of moral authority to free their father.
And yet the greatest challenge might be learning to work together. As the brothers clash over money and the distribution of labor, difficult questions take the foreground – who decides what becomes of América, and how long will they put their lives on hold to care for her?
“'América' is a beautiful portrait of family and the duties that come with as our loved ones age,” said Chris White, executive producer for POV. “Though specific to Diego and his brothers’ home in Mexico, the joys and challenges of elder care will resonate with everyone, no matter where they live or whom they consider family.”
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Credits:
Director: Erick Stoll, Chase Whiteside. Producers: Erick Stoll, Chase Whiteside. Cinematographer: Erick Stoll. Editors: Erick Stoll, Chase Whiteside. Sound Designer: Christian Giraud. Executive Producers for POV: Justine Nagan and Chris White. A Lifelike Docs production in association with American Documentary | POV. The film is a co-presentation with Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB).
