Many films tell the stories of immigrants when they arrive in the United States, but only a handful tell about what happens when those same immigrants return to their country of origin.
This is exactly what you witness when you watch “Aqui y alla,” which screens from May 10 through the 16 at the Media Arts Center San Diego’s Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.
“Aqui y alla,” directed by Mexican filmmaker Antonio Mendez Esparza, tells the story of an immigrant who returns home in Mexico and how he has to rebuild his relationship with his family, according to Martha Cardona, spokesperson for the Media Arts Center, the organization behind the San Diego Latino Film Festival.
“This movie shows us daily life of this family and how they resolve the tension caused by being separated for so long,” she said.
The film was screened at the San Diego Latino Film Festival in March and it was well received by the audience.
“People could relate to this family, because the story is very moving,” said Glenn Heath, exhibition coordinator for the Media Arts Center.
Something to highlight in “Aqui y Alla” is that the majority of actors are non-professional, giving it a different flavor.
“Acting is so natural that sometimes you feel as if you were looking at a Mexican family through their window, and not in a film,” Cardona said.
Is that real-life feeling that gives this movie its charm, since it doesn’t treat immigrants as just another statistic or another case; instead it gives immigration to the U.S. a face, when in Congress several proposals for immigration reform are being considered.
“Many times it is easy to forget that at the end of the day these are families that are affected by Congress’ decision,” Cardona said. “These types of stories serve as a reminder and put a face to these families. No matter what your opinion is on immigration, it is important not to forget these families”.
Pro-immigrant activist Enrique Morones will be speaking about the topic during one of the screenings on Saturday, May 11.
“It’s important to humanize the immigration issue,” said Morones, who founded Border Angels. “The deaths at the border are stories. People cross because of need and then we don’t know where they are from” when they find their bodies in the desert.
“Aqui y alla” will be screen-ed at the Digital Gym Cinema, a small theater that opened in late March inside the Media Arts Center’s facilities. The place will be an alternative to commercial movie theaters in San Diego.
“We’re screening independent films for the community,” Cardona said. “The public has liked the theater a lot, because it is very welcoming.”
General tickets are $10.50 per film. Students, seniors, military, and Media Arts Center San Diego members, $10.50 per film. To learn more, please call (619) 230-1938 or visit www.digitalgym.org.
