Luto is an investigation on dealing with grief: Mexican Director Andres Arochi
A Draft Correspondent | Panjim
The team from the Mexican film 'Luto' engaged in an insightful media session during the 54th IFFI in Goa. 'Luto' celebrated its world premiere at the festival under the Docu-montage category yesterday. The panel included Director Andres Arochi Tinajero, Producer Santiago Tron, Actress Daniella Valdez, and Actor Rodrigo Azuela.
Running for 110 minutes in Spanish, the film explores grief against the backdrop of the Mexican landscape, portraying how individuals navigate through the diverse stages of grief, transcending beliefs, classes, and religions.
Director Andres Arochi Tinajero shared the inspiration behind the film, expressing a desire to create a heartfelt project that laid bare his vulnerabilities. "I have never been afraid of people dying, but I’ve always been afraid of my people dying, of going through grief. And for me, this movie is about this investigation into dealing with grief," added Andres.
Actor Rodrigo Azuela emphasized the difficulty of dealing with grief and highlighted the importance of carrying on with pain, dignified and appreciative. "Grief is the price you pay for love, and love is absolutely worth it," shared the actor.
The director expanded on the role of rituals in coping with grief, noting practices like lighting a candle, visiting one's hometown, praying, or cooking favorite food. "In their heart, everyone knows what to do, and they need to confront their fears to do that. And that’s the power of grief, dealing with everything that is untouched," he added.
Actress Daniella Valdez shared personal experiences, stating, "I allow myself to go through the emotions, to feel sad and empty. It is hard, but the team helps me to get back the energy."
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| Director Andres Arochi Tinajero shared the inspiration behind the film, expressing a desire to create a heartfelt project that laid bare his vulnerabilities |
Producer Santiago Tron discussed grief related to losing someone to death, mentioning the Mexican tradition of 'Day of the Dead.' This tradition involves a family reunion where deceased ancestors are honored guests, a day to remember and celebrate their memory.
Director Andres delved further into this, explaining, "Every part of the country celebrates this day very differently. A big part of this beautiful day is the crossover of Mayan culture and Spanish Catholicism. In Mayan culture, there is life after death. And Mexico has both these elements. Every year you get to remember the dead people and how much you miss them."
Reflecting on his experiences filming across Mexico, Director Andres noted the similarities between India and Mexico in how people warmly welcome strangers and openly share their experiences."
