The Festival’s flagship section, gutsy cinema that breaks new ground
MEXICO | 104 minutes | 2015
Morbidly obese Frederico lives a lonely life. Unable to leave the house because of his weight, he keeps to a routine marked by jewellery making and Sunday visits from his cranky sister. After finding an old roll of film, he ventures outdoors and heads to a photography studio, where he befriends spiky-haired punk rock and comic book enthusiast Paulo. Thanks to Paulo, he discovers a newfound love for photography, which in turn brings him closer to his brother-in-law Ramón. In this tender first feature by Mexican director Alejandro Guzman Alvarez, photography is a gateway to freedom. Despite the film’s melancholy premise, there’s nothing gloomy about this tale of blossoming friendship between three men of different ages, backgrounds and sizes. United by a shared passion, they step outside their comfort zones (both literally and figuratively) and find their own way. The camera observes Frederico in his everyday life and accompanies him on his journey, always treating its subject with respect as he opens himself up to new people and experiences. A lyrical gem with touches of magic realism that’s neither obvious nor trite.
Guzmán Alvarez was born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa in 1973. In 1996, he entered the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (CCC) where he specialised in film directing.SHE SLEEPS, his first short film, was selected in various festivals such as Images du Nouveau Monde, Fête Panaméricaine des arts de l'écran Québec, Latino Film Festival in Texas and International Festival of Film Schools in Mexico City. It won the Audience Award at the 8th Biennial of Photography.THE OTHER JOSE, his exam short, participated in the Guadalajara International Film Festival, Morelia International Film Festival, Los Cabos International Film Festival and Rencontres Cinémas d'Amérique Latine in Toulouse.He directed a couple of episodes on the History of Medicine for Clio TV, Enrique Krauze’s production house for historical documentaries. Also he has been in charge of Pemex’s Notipemex TV programme for a year.He works as a teacher at the School of Dramatic Literature and Theater at UNAM’s Faculty of Philosophy and Literature, where he holds screenplay and moving-images workshops. He also teaches at the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (CCC) and has lectured at Ro75 as well as the Cultural Pavilion of Cabo San Lucas. In 2012, he was director and scriptwriter of the play WAITING for the project Microteatro of the theatre company In A Nutshell.WALKING DISTANCE is his first feature film.
Filmography Alejandro Guzmán Alvarez2015 WALKING DISTANCE (Distancias cortas, feature film)2005 THE OTHER JOSE (El otro José, short)1998 SHE SLEEPS (Ella duerme,
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