Lionsgate at the ‘Heart ‘ of Spanish-Speaking Market

Banking on the large-reach demographic of Spanish speaking moviegoers that Maya Entertainment is keen on servicing, Lionsgate (known for franchise horror films, Tyler Perry comedies) have grabbed last year’s foreign-language short list nominated film from Mexico for an eventual theatrical run in theaters – perhaps sometime this year or next. Roberto Sneider’s “Arrancame la vida” (Tear This Heart Out) was a major box office draw for Latin America’s 20th Century Fox, and Lionsgate who’ve made strides in the past with in this market with La mujer de mi hermano will benefit from the buzz at the south of the border.

Judging by the trailer, the picture, based on a best-selling novel by Angeles Mastretta, benefitted from the type of financing who’s craft services were probably more expensive than what is cost to make Fernando Eimbcke’s Lake Tahoe (also a Mexican production). Set in 30s and 40s Mexico, the pic charts the marriage of a 15-year-old girl to a general with political ambitions and her love affair with a left-wing orchestra director. Ana Claudia Talancón (from The Crime of Father Amaro and Fast Food Nation fame) is the middle piece of the sweeping melodrama.

Are you looking forward to this sweeping melodrama? I’d like to know!