This Week: A Puerto Rican Hero, Two Friends in Mexico City, and a Father in the Bronx

Two best friends in Mexico City find their bond tested by trauma, while a formerly incarcerated father returns to the Bronx to discover that his family has changed in ways he struggles to understand. This week, Tiffany Vazquez recommends “Chicas Tristes” and “Gun Hill Road,” two films that explore the fragile ties between people who love each other but don’t always know how to bridge the distance between them.

In this week's featured interview, Tiffany Vazquez speaks with director Kristian Mercado about “Mataron a Pedro,” his short film about Puerto Rican independence leader Pedro Albizu Campos. Mercado reflects on the community screenings bringing audiences together across the states and the island, the powerful response from viewers, and the importance of seeing Puerto Rican history represented on screen.

Happy Watching,

— Vanessa

This impressive feature directorial debut from Fernanda Tovar follows best friends Maestra and Paola, who are inseparable. They take dance classes together, have sleepovers, chill on rooftops, and swim on their school’s team together, hoping to attend a competition in Brazil. But their bond is tested after a traumatic event happens to Paola, and Maestra struggles with her own feelings of guilt and powerlessness to right the wrongs that have been committed. This coming-of-age drama is both poetic and accessible, balancing serious tones while maintaining the vibrancy needed to portray everyday life in Mexico City. Winner of two awards at Berlinale, including the Crystal Bear, “Chicas Tristes” is not to be missed.

Playing November 7 at Laemmle Royal as part of Guadalajara’s Film Festival in Los Angeles (GLAFF).

Rashad Ernesto Green’s 2011 Bronx-set family drama has only gotten better with time. Enrique (Esai Morales), newly released from prison, comes home to a lot of changes. His wife (Judy Reyes) has moved on with her life after years of being disappointed, and his child (Harmony Santana) is hiding her gender identity from him out of fear of transphobia and retaliation. Enrique is forced to confront the passage of time, his antiquated ideas of fatherhood and machismo, and the effects being incarcerated has had on him. The result is a deeply compassionate portrayal of family life that feels rare, especially for its time. Breakout star Harmony Santana became the first trans actress to be nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her performance.

Available to stream on Tubi and to rent on other digital platforms.

— By Tiffany Vazquez

"Mataron a Pedro," the latest short film from director Kristian Mercado (“Mariposa,” “Nuevo Rico,” “Mela”), explores the life and struggles of Pedro Albizu Campos, an attorney who became the president and spokesperson for the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico, leading a movement for independence for the archipelago during times of colonial suppression. Campos is a heroic figure for many Puerto Ricans, as he dedicated his life to fighting for civil rights and paid a heavy price. He was charged with insurrection by the United States government and served a total of 26 years in prison. Campos alleged that he was subjected to human radiation experiments while imprisoned and died after his release in 1965, after suffering a stroke. He has become a symbol of resistance for many Puerto Ricans, so portraying his story on screen is no small task. And while it’s financially easier to make a short, it’s harder to screen one in a theater outside of film festivals. But Mercado and his team have been organizing community screenings throughout the states and in Puerto Rico, and the results have been empowering. We spoke with the director about screening this movie for his community, casting a larger-than-life figure, and the importance of the current moment in Puerto Rican cinema.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

You've made many efforts to show your short film, “Mataron a Pedro,” at community screenings. How has that been going?

KM: It’s performing really well, which is rare for short films. It’s definitely the most exciting release for a short I’ve ever seen or had myself, you know?

How many screenings have you done so far?

KM: I think we’re nearing 30 screenings for the community. That doesn’t include film festival screenings. Other than HollyShorts, most of them have been Latino film festivals. We didn’t get into any of the other major ones, but it doesn’t even matter to me because I feel like the community aspect is so big.