by Eydie Mendoza
“Te amo, amo, amo …” Silvia says. Rodrigo and Samuel, share a loving bond with their mother, Silvia in the film The Life After/La Vida Después (Spanish with English subtitles) by Director David Pablos, whose first feature film, delves into the trickling effects of depression.
The cast includes incredible performances by Américo Hollander as Samuel, Rodrigo Azuela as Rodrigo, and María Renée Prudencio as Silvia in scenes that leave a lasting impression of birth, growth, and loss in a symbolic journey that occurs while the young men go in search of their mother after she abandons them. Her note simply reads “’Tuve que salir,’ mamá.”
The brothers remain at home as they waver in fear and hope for a while until receiving a clue so they set out to look for their mother. While Rodrigo and Samuel encounter, what some might consider as shocking, their road trip is filled with ups and downs, brotherly arguing and humor.
Experience how the two brothers internalize and develop in spite of the shared upbringing with a single mother battling mental health.
There’s one more screening scheduled for this Saturday, March 7 in case you missed the first two screenings. Check with Cinequest later on this Saturday to see if there will be an Encore showing on Sunday, March 8th.
Eydie Mendoza has worked with underserved and underrepresented communities as a bilingual educator and counselor assisting families, care providers, teachers, youth and adults in pursuing their dreams for a better education and life within her roles at National Council of La Raza, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and College of the Redwoods in Eureka. She is a former SVL Editor-in-Chief of SVLatino.com and a former San Jose Pride Board Member. With membership to the Luna Park Business Association, the Latina Success Network, and a team member of the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit, she is currently the Social Media and Website Coordinator for Santa Clara County Public Health and web producer for her own business EMpresenta.