|
 Sunday,
January 13, 2008 at CHICLE, 5:00 pm, Video, American Visa, Bolivia/Mexico, 2005,
Spanish with English subtitles, 100 minutes
American Visa is a Bolivia/Mexico-produced film by Bolivian writer and director
Juan Carlos Valdivia. The film, from 2005, is set in La Paz, Bolivia, and features
many exterior shots of the city and surrounding countryside - a setting seldom seen
by film-goers considering the paucity of Bolivian film.
Mario is a retired English teacher from the Bolivian countryside. Leaving his career,
his home, his town and his past, he sets out to follow his dream of seeing the United
States. More than just visiting the US, Mario hopes to become a part of the American
dream; America to him is opportunity, and stability, a place to escape to from the
apparent inadequacies of his own Bolivia and to reunite with his now adult son. But
is he really motivated by love for his son? Is he really running away from a country
in chaos? Mario arrives in scenic La Paz in order to secure a travel visa. Once there,
he meets and befriends the lovely Blanca- an exotic dancer at the local strip club.
The two share an immediate attraction despite their vastly different dreams and
they quickly fall into a promising relationship which threatens to undermine everything.
But Mario is a diligent man, and he is willing to revert to any measure possible
to obtain that one thing which he wants most, that one thing which all of us take
for granted—a life in the U.S. Will Mario get his visa and live out his dream
or will a new love and vision intervene?
With a different angle on the immigration story, American Visa deals with our complex
relationship with the U.S.
American Visa is an adaptation of a popular Bolivian novel. It was shot entirely
in Bolivia with two great Mexican stars in the leading roles. It deals with the irony
of looking outside for what can only be found inside.
Please call us at (919) 933-0398 if you want more information. You can also e-mail
us. |
