Kickstarter

STORY

- Alicia (62) is dying. Thus, she decides to go back to the house where she grew up: in the middle of the mountains and country side of the island. In order to start and complete this journey, she wants her eldest daughter, Carmen (42) and grandson Alejandro (19) (Carmen's son) to come with her. They dont know about her desease. For one day they all go to try and clean up this place which is almost at an abandon  state. This persona voyage is really Alicia's intention to establish a new relationship with her daughter. She wants to rebuild for a new future, for which she understands that Alejandro is a key component. And in order to accomplish what seems to be her last wish, Alicia must first confront a past she never understood; something she has denied for many years now. 

 VISUAL STYLE

  The film will take advantage of the nature surrounding the mountain and country side areas fo the island. They will serve as another "character" in the film, highlighting the deep emotions of the main characters, for there will be moments when they won't be able to find the correct words for expression. So nature will be that other "voice", that invisible something that will understand them in the "silence" they are part of. It is going to be a visual and poetic film.

THE INSPIRATION

- The film is based in part on the relationship between my mother and grandmother, which was a very complicated and complex relationship. It was a very strained relationship because my grandmother was a very emotionally distant mother while raising my mother. This had a psychological impact on my mother, though she was able to grow up as normal women and mother. Still the scars were deep, and she still had her questions unanswered. This kind of hidden pain was transfered to me as my mother raised me. And I as wel did not understood why she, as a mother, was distant and unexplainably harsh on me on some occasions.

   But, when my gradnmother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at 62 (10 years ago) -even before that- she had realized the pain she had given to my mother. So, as my mother was taking care of her on her deathbed, they developed a new relationship, a new love was born. My mother finally understood  why her mother was acting the way she did when she was young: she was only trying to protect her, to be a mother trying to teach her about life and how one needs to be strong when facing it. The only thing was that my grandmother relied more upon her actions than words, thus the complexity that surrounded them. She was able to see that she always had a mother full of love and care. 

  After grandma died, mom changed in every aspect: was more positive, stronger, seemed like nothing was going to stop her. Our relationship changed very quickly as well, more than a mother she is a friend now. Even though sometimes we have our moments, I love her. I did not know everything about what I just told you until 7 years later grandmother died. Then 3 years later I decided to investigate more about my grandmother's life: how she grew up, the little differences between the Puerto Rico from the past and today. Understanding more about her and my family, and the place I am from. I found out those emotional complexities were existing even before my mother was born, since grandma's childhood, and they were even more complex. 

  And so, here I am now wanting to share this story. It was a very exciting and difficult journey to get into; very emotional and certainly... revealing. 

  This film is my poem to the two mothers that shaped my life for the better, and whose past reveal some important things about our future, and not just as a family. On a level that represents where we come from, where we still live, the future for that place remains uncertain, although all feels that a change will one day come for the best. 

WHAT'S THE MONEY FOR?

 The money that you can donate will be strictly and carefully use for rental equipment, to feed and pay our crew, permits and insurances, transportation, and post-production. 

 Like I said, this film wil be shot entirely on location, in Puerto Rico. A very talented and well respected crew will be assisting in this production. A crew that have had experience in international film productions (Italy, Germany, Chile, and of course Hollywood), productions filmed in Puerto Rico. 

As an example, check out DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY, SANTIAGO BENET MARI'S work on his website: http://santiagobenetmari.com/

Your help will be greatly appreciated! EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS! 

KICKSTARTER IS OUR ALL OR NOTHING TO REACH OUR GOAL! IF WE DONT REACH IT, THERE WONT BE ANY FUNDS. 

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND US ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

DESIGNS AND LOCATIONS

POSTER DESIGNED BY ALEX PARKIN