On the beautiful evening of Friday September 17th, 2021 I drove to La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown Los Angeles, California with Joel Duran to attend the opening ceremony of the Hola Mexico Film Festival. Being new to the environment I was in total awe after walking into the well decorated event. From the red carpet stars to the flavorsome food and drinks, the mood was brilliantly set before the start of the festival’s opening film. Perdida, a suspenseful thriller by the acclaimed director Jorge Michel Grau, had the entire audience speculating how each scene would play out. After the surprising revelations and its conclusion I headed to the lounge to grab Herradura Tequila shots and margaritas before analyzing the film with the other guests. I met some amazing people, including many Latino creatives, all as inspired to represent where they are from.
I was impressed by the film from the opening scene when the main character Eric, played by José María de Tavira, washed his face in the bathroom. [SPOILER ALERT] A small detail there by the director would foreshadow the plot. As I realized how significant mirrors would become before the end of the film, it brought more weight to the first scene. I always love when so many details are given in subtle ways because it makes paying attention that much more rewarding.
As we continued with the film there were small things happening that introduced supernatural elements. The supernatural was alluded to from the bathtub scene and the rumbling water to the sink literally speaking to Fabiana, played by Cristina Rodlo. At first those scenes that hinted at something haunting the house disappointed me because I have seen similar directorial strategies many times. However, when I say this director is brilliant I meant that because Jorge Michel Grau preyed on our Latino superstitions by making us believe we knew what was unraveling. Yet, the unexpected twists kept surprising and they brought a breath of fresh air. They were ultimately not at all disappointing. [SPOILER END] I was stunned to see what was unveiled and am excited to see what Jorge Michel has in the works for us next.
My amazement for this film was shared by others in attendance who I discussed the film with. I was honored to meet one of the red carpet stars named Gilbert Saldivar. He is from Houston, Texas but lives in Los Angeles, California. He has danced for artists like Madonna and Janet Jackson and currently tours with Christina Aguilera. He also acts and can be seen in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Our enthusiasm was also shared by the Salvadorian professor at Fullerton College Cynthia Guardado. Meeting these two was a highlight of my night. The Hola Mexico Film Festival was doing much more than promoting films and culture; they also developed a sense of community among Latinos from different parts of the Los Angeles area.