Join us at the Gateway Film Center on Thurs., Sept. 2, at 7:30pm for an in-person screening of Viejo Calavera (2016), directed by Kiro Russo.
Or create an account on BoliviaCine.com to stream the film there, available from 6pm on Thurs., Sept. 2 until 11pm on Fri, Sept. 3.
Register here to join us for a Q&A with the director as well, on Fri., Sept. 3 at 5pm via Zoom.
Synopsis:
El padre de Elder Mamani ha muerto, y parece como si no le importara. Sigue chupando en los karaokes, en las calles y metiéndose en problemas. Pero ya nadie quiere hacerse cargo de él. Lo único que le queda es la casa de su abuela en las afueras del pueblo minero. Allá no va a tener cómo ni con quién cañarse. Su tío Francisco, que es también su padrino, tiene que cargar con él, le da una mano, le consigue un trabajo en la mina. Pero a Elder parece que no le interesa nada, todo el tiempo la está cagando cuando palea con su padrino, se pierde en la oscuridad, no trabaja. De todas formas ahí dentro se ha enterado de historias oscuras de su tío. No es tan inocente, como parece. Hay que saber arreglárselas en medio de este laberinto, en este lugar oscuro y desconocido, donde todos son otros. Medio tocados. Por la luz de la muerte.
Young Elder is sent to live with his grandmother in Huanuni, a small town in Bolivia. Once there, he proves a constant embarrassment to his godfather, Francisco, frequently skipping work to get drunk or high. Very soon, he will discover a dark secret about Francisco’s involvement in his dad’s death.
Watch the trailer here (explicit language and themes- viewer discretion advised).
Meet the Director:
Kiro Russo studied film direction at the University of Cinema of Buenos Aires. He directed and co-wrote the short films Enterprisse (2010), Juku (2012), and New Life (2015), winner of the Grand Prize for Short Film in Indie Lisboa and awarded as best short film in Ficunam and best green short film in the Kaohsiung film festival. New Life (2015), his last short film, has won awards in San Sebastián and Locarno. Russo created his first feature film, Viejo Calavera, in collaboration with a miners' syndicate.
The Bolivian Cinema Series is organized by the Abya Yala Student Organization with support from the following OSU partners: Center for Latin American Studies, Department of Spanish & Portuguese, K'acha Willaykuna Group, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Department of Comparative Studies, Department of Anthropology, and Department of Theatre, Film, & Media Arts.
Q&A with Director:
