2011 Guadalajara Construye 5 / Films in Progress: Six Titles in Spotlight

In its Fifth edition, The Guadalajara Construye/ Films In Progress took place between the 29th and 30th of March during the FICG 26 inside the newly christened market at the Expo Guadalajara. Submissions were open to filmmakers from Mexico, Central America and the Carribeean. One of the six is an invited film from Argentina, The Tenth Circle, which is a collaboration between Guadalajara and the Vina del Mar Film Festival. These six films currently in post were screened for an eight-member jury in which each member promises a substantial post-production prize towards the film of their choice. Notable jurors included Alfredo Calvino, founder of the reputable international sales company Latinofusion whose award consists of a $20,000USD advance for the international representation rights of the finished film, and David Titra whose subtitling house offers laser subtitles on 35 mm and 500 dvds. Open to accredited industry, filmmakers are present to introduce and answer any questions at the end of their screenings.

At the concluding ceremony, post-production resources were doled out to The Zebra, and Short Bald and Fat with multiple prizes going to La Sargento Matacho. Overall, the films represented interesting and diverse voices. Worth noting however, especially given the data collected in IMCINE”s 2010 statistics which state a 100% increase in female directors, none of the films are by female directors. The only female representation above the line is the co-writer of La Sargento and Julio’s go-to cinematographer, Maria Secco. Considering the works are in post-production I’ll focus on the potential of the narrative, direction, acting and originality.

Gordo, Calvo y Bajito/Fat, (Bald, Short Man) by Carlos Osuna (Columbia)
An animated tale about the titular fat bald short man named Antonio who has an extremely shy and passive personality. Whether it’s the annoying co-worker at the notary office or his deadbeat brother, Antonio allows people to walkover him. However when his new boss turns out to be a fatter shorter balder version of himself who happens to be successful, confident and Antonio befriends him and slowly starts to figure out he can himself.
Carlos is a Berlinale Talent Campus alumni and just came from winning best movie project in Cartagena Film Festival. As evident from the consistent laughter this proved the most charming film of the bunch presented. The form is squiggle animation against an unfocused live action background. The lead role characterization is strong and yields a lot of emotion and sympathy for the hero. The signature tune which the filmmaker confirmed is final adds to the memorable quirkiness, not to mention the Columbian culture through the dance and speak is highlighted and adds to the pleasure. Not the most daring story but definitely something not expected from Columbia’s cinema.

La Sargento Matacho by William Gonzalez Zafra and co-written with Matilde Rodriguez (Columbia/Mexico/Spain)
Set amid the violence of 1948 Columbia – a young wife and mother witnesses her liberal party husband be shot and killed by the Columbian army. The shock leaves her profoundly disturbed and soon she falls into a primal state which transforms her into a cold killer. She inserts herself with the opposition forces who note her good shooting skills and soon procreates with various outlaws until wanted. Zafra has worked on shorts as well as assistant director to Arturo Ripstein. One of the longer cuts screened in the program but one that leaves an indelible impression. Brutally violent and charged with the confounding paradox of a woman who seems to perpetually carry and bears life in her womb yet steals it from both the bad military and innocent children indiscriminately. The film begs for more character substance to nurture the seed and complexity in order to provide a deeper connection.

Dust/Polvo written and directed by Julio Hernandez Cordon (Guatemala)
After a successful opera prima with Gasolina (2007) and his follow up Marimbas del Fuego -which continues to stack up festival prizes most recently at Toulouse, the talented docu-fiction filmmaker unveiled his latest at Construye where his screening was the most well attended of the program. Polvo follows a filmmaker who is producing a documentary about the Guatemalan Civil war. His subject, a traumatized young man seeking answers about his father however is unwilling to fully expose himself on camera. With an unwavering patient and guiding hand, plot seams are ever so slowly formed that if you are not paying enough attention a scene with sudden action will leave you’ll there as expected. The sparing and minimalist style works for me but not for all. The film is another worthy and unique addition to the films from Guadalajara. An essential.

The Zebra/La Cebra Directing debut by Ariel and Goya winning screenwriter Jose Fernando Javier Leon Rodriguez.
It’s 1915 Mexico at the height of rivaling revolutionaries, and two drift-less bumbling bandits weigh whether to align themselves with Pancho Villa or Alvaro Obregon’s troops. Riding on the zebra which they mistake for a gringo horse the two traipse through a minefield of dangerous desert battling surreal comedic and grave dangers but soon the fierce survivalist will put to their friendship to the test. Tonally, the film struggles to navigate the comedic elements with the grave bloody depictions which upends the initially broad appeal. What it does well however is paint the revolution era a bit more complex than most pictures of the bicentennial.

Interior/Exterior – written and directed by Mauricio Novelo Jarque (Mexico)
Mauricio specializes in documentaries as director and photographer shooting mostly in Chiapas, Tabasco as well as abroad in Spain and Japan. A visual Japanese odyssey led by voices of artists who reflect on the modern world ecompassing space and mythology. Conceptual and artistic work, the voice-overs aim to illuminate the very same philosophy which eschews wordy explanations. The filmmaker is clearly inspired by the fusion of art and film and should capitalize on art festival circuits.

The Tenth Circle/EL Decimo Infierno – Co-written and co-directed by Mempo Giardinelli and Juan Pablo Mendez (Argentina)
Based on the novel by Juan Pablo Mendez, this lurid tale about a man who is having an affair with the wife of his business partner and friend Antonio. For some reason they decide to kill the man and the domino effect spirals out of control like a bonnie and clyde killing spree. Chilean actor Patricio Contreras doesn’t quite fill the big shoes required of these sleazy but appealing roles in which the audience witnesses a moral downward spiral. Bluntly said, the actors don’t deliver the sizzling passionate performances required of these kind of films to fully titilliate and provide guilty thrills intended.