Cochochi
Cochochi
Cochochi
Mexico, England, Canada, 2007
directed by
Israel Cardenas, Laura Amelia Guzmán
screenplay
Israel Cárdenas, Laura Amelia Guzmán
cinematography
Israel Cárdenas, Laura Amelia Guzmán
music
Lynn Fainchtein
sound
Federico Schmulcer
editing
Yibrán Asuad, Israel Cárdenas
cast
Luis Antonio Lerma Torres, Evaristo Corpus Lerma Torres, Jose Ignacio Torres Rodríguez, Jose Angel Torres Rodríguez, Luis Alfredo Villalobos Nevares
producer
Pablo Cruz, Donald K. Ranvaud
production
Buena Onda Films
Buena Onda Limited 3rd Floor, 1A Adpar Sreet London W2 1DE UK
T +44 (0)20 7535 6707 F +44 (0)20 7563 7283
Canana Films
San Luis Potosí no. 211, Piso 8
Col Roma
Delegación Cuauhtémoc
C.P. 06700
Mexico, D.F.
T +52 55 47 77 79 35/40
F +52 72 3553
E info@canana.net
world sales
Ondamax Films
1225 Alton Road
Miami Beach
Florida 33139
USA
T +1 305 535 3577
E eric@ondamaxfilms.com
Canana Films
San Luis Potosí no. 211, Piso 8
Col Roma
Delegación Cuauhtémoc
C.P. 06700
Mexico, D.F.
T +52 55 47 77 79 35/40
F +52 72 3553
E info@canana.net
format
35 mm, barvni/colour
running time
87'
A simple story reveals every day life of native American community Rarámuri from Tarahumara on north-western part of Mexico. Two brothers, aged eleven, Evaristo and Luis Antonio, have just finished primary school. The first is looking forward to new school adventures, the other one is more interested in working in ranch in Okochochi valley. On the last school day the news is broadcast on the local radio, that on the other side of the valley medicine is needed; so grandfather sends boys on the way. In order to shorten the way boys borrow, without permission of course, the best horse. But it disappears during the way. While searching the Mexican landscape greets them with mystical fog. They lose track of one another. Their traveling stories are torn apart and are full of mysterious people, traveling vague trucks, home made liquor, running competitions and bets.
Simple story reveals reality of native American community in mountains of North Mexico. Easy going narration shows picturesque and majestic land, people and their habits. Documentaristic approach isn't coincidence. Actors are natives, main characters Evaristo and Tony are actually telling the story of their lives. Reality itself – beautiful mountains of Mexico – gives reality a touch of magic and lyricism. Out of vast plateau, hidden in silent fog, come secret characters, who safely lead our boys on their journey. Realistic traditional environment is joined by elements from fairy tale. These elements make the directors typical hybrids between documentary and fiction films.
»That year Evaristo and Tony were about to finish elementary school; in this step most of the students desert from school, and we saw reflected in them a common reality: to work or to study. Without looking for it, Evaristo and Tony where giving us all the elements to start writing a script, always keeping the initial narrative of the search of the lost horse.« (Israel Cardenas, Laura Amelia Guzmán)
Israel Cardenas, Laura Amelia Guzmán
Israel Cardenas, born in 1980 in Monterreyju, Mexico, founded his production house Blueberry Films in 2001. It represents independent film production. He produces commercial spots, documentary and short films.
Laura Amelia Guzmán, born in 1980 in Santo Domingo, Dominican republic, decided to study film in Cuba after studying photography. She is more and more established director of documentary and short films. Cochochi is their first film, winning several prizes, among others Diesel Discovery at international film festival in Toronto.
* * *
»That year Evaristo and Tony were about to finish elementary school; in this step most of the students desert from school, and we saw reflected in them a common reality: to work or to study. Without looking for it, Evaristo and Tony where giving us all the elements to start writing a script, always keeping the initial narrative of the search of the lost horse.« (Israel Cardenas, Laura Amelia Guzmán)
