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Los ausentes

The Absents | Die Abwesenden
Generation Kplus (Out of competition) 2019
© Diana Garay
With a guitar on his back and a repertoire of exactly three tunes, Rafaelito and his two friends make their way to an indigenous community in Mexico’s Huasteca region, where they are supposed to perform at a funeral. The magical power of the music takes hold quickly and is echoed in the faces of the guests and young musicians. The soulful songs offer solace and make it easier to say goodbye. Then the widow requests a fourth song.
by José Lomas Hervert
with Luis Mario Salazar Zavala, Jaime Alfonso Meráz Sánchez, Víctor Hugo Garrocho Hernández, Rafaela Arcángel, Aldo Verástegui Mexico 2017 Spanish 17’ Colour recommendation: 12 years and up

With

  • Luis Mario Salazar Zavala (Rafaelito)
  • Jaime Alfonso Meráz Sánchez (Abdón)
  • Víctor Hugo Garrocho Hernández (Ponciano)
  • Rafaela Arcángel (Anciana)
  • Aldo Verástegui (Lanchero)

Crew

Written and Directed by José Lomas Hervert
Cinematography Diana Garay Viñas
Editing Jesús García
Music Eloy Fernando Zúñiga Guinea
Sound Mixing Omar Juárez Espino
Sound Carlos Cervantes
Art Director Daniela Cruz Rodríguez
Production Design Daniela Cruz Rodríguez
Costumes Mariana Moreno Castillo
Make-Up Mariana Moreno Castillo
Assistant Director Karen Barrera Berroso
Production Manager Laura Berrón
Producer Hugo Espinosa

Produced by

Hugo Espinosa

Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografia

José Lomas Hervert

The Mexican director was born in San Luis Potosí and raised in Arizona and Texas from the age of nine. He studied fine arts at the University of Texas and, in 2011, founded the Bisonte Rojo production company. In 2012, he wrote and produced Potosí, which won the Best First Mexican Feature Award at the Guanajuato International Film Festival and was nominated for three categories in the Ariel Awards in Mexico. Los ausentes (The Absents) won Best Mexican Short at the Monterrey International Film Festival in 2018.

Filmography

2015 Gerardo; documentary 2017 Los ausentes (The Absents); short film

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019