The Morelia International Film Festival (FICM 2022) began its 20th edition with the visit of Alejandro González Iñárritu. The filmmaker presented his most recent production called Bardo, False Chronicle of a Few Truths. A film that brought him back to Mexican territory, to configure an introspective and semi-biographical story that was the singular opening work of the festival.
During the opening press conference, the conversation focused mainly on the director’s return to Mexico. But not from a production point of view, but from an emotional one. Iñárritu commented that “no Mexican is more Mexican than him when he leaves his country.” And he explained about longing and why Mexican production teams are different from those around the world.
“Returning to your country becomes much more powerful due to the absence of everything you long for and nostalgia, melancholy is a trap and humor is its remedy,” he explained. “This film deals with it from melancholy and humor, not from sadness, but from everything that this absurdity of how we are making our memories that are changing entails.”
In Bard, Silverio returns to Mexico to receive a prestigious journalism award. He receives both welcoming hugs and comments that he has traded his country for the imperialist United States. The character navigates between longing and guilt for having abandoned his homeland in search of success.
Of course the film is visibly biographical. Reason why Iñárritu finds her emotional in many moments. But above all, what excited the director the most was working again with a Mexican team. Between questions and answers he praised the energy of the Mexican workers that is unlike any other film production team in the world.
“Going back to work in Mexico City and living in Mexico City, having a Mexican team was something very extraordinary for me,” said the Oscar winner. «Because I have worked in many parts of the world with crews from all over the world, but the passion, the dedication, the unconditionality that exists in each of the members of a Mexican team, you cannot find anywhere in the world».
«And I say that not because I am Mexican, but because I have talked about it with many directors from many parts who have filmed here. And there is an energy, there is a madness, there is an excitement, there is a dignity and there is an effort that has no limits, “the filmmaker completed.
The press conference was held in the Auditorium of the University Cultural Center. In addition to Alejandro G. Iñárritu, production designer Eugenio Caballero, co-screenwriter Nicolás Giacobone, costume designer Anna Terrazas; and part of the cast: Daniel Giménez Cacho, Griselda Siciliani, Ximena Lamadrid and Iker Solano.
Later, the film crew walked the red carpet placed next to the Matamoros Theater. The opening ceremony of FICM 2022 was held in that place, where Iñárritu presented the film and kicked off the 20th edition of the festival.
Cine PREMIERE will continue to be present at FICM 2022. Bardo, False Chronicle of a Few Truths It will be released in theaters on October 27.
Luis Angel H Mora My Hogwarts letter never came, so I focused my life on movies. I like to write, Harry Potter, Doctor Who and parties where I wear an astrologer. John Williams and The Killers musicalize the drama of my life.
