- Title: MEXICO: Diego Luna presents his directing debut "Abel"
- Date: 27th May 2010
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MAY 25, 2010) (REUTERS) POSTER OF ABEL AT CINEMA
- Embargoed: 11th June 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Reuters ID: LVAE5LUKUZIX56H3BK5FQVCO85MV
- Story Text: Diego Luna walked the red carpet - together with the film's cast - in Mexico City on Tuesday (May 25) to present his highly anticipated directing debut "Abel," the story of a psychologically troubled nine-year-old boy who imagines he is the head of his broken family.
The bittersweet story stars newcomer Christopher Ruiz-Esparza as Abel.
Luna directs the film with the help of cinematographer Patrick Murguia, who provides a beautifully lit backdrop for the story about housewife Cecilia, played by Karina Gidi, who has been abandoned by her husband Anselmo, played by Jose Maria Yazpik, two years ago.
Abel, who at the beginning of the film is taken home from a mental institution by his mother, is a headache for his family including his younger brother Paul, played by Geraldo Ruiz-Esparza, and sister Selene, played by Geraldine Alejandra who have to put up with Abel's constant and unexpected outbursts until he extraordinarily decides to take over the household.
He believes his siblings are his children and his mother his wife leading to comic moments such as when he interrogates his sister before she goes on a date. The film also dangerously explores the Oedipus complex as Abel sleeps next to his mother, pretends to smoke a cigarette and announces the stork will bring a baby home.
The story turns bleak when Abel's father, who has a second family and is an irresponsible good for nothing, shows up and has no patience for Abel's antics.
During a news conference in Mexico City, Diego Luna said the transition from actor to director came as a natural process to him.
"Going from acting to directing was very natural for me. I felt this some time ago but I also respect the director but you should do it only when you are ready and prepared for it and you know want story you're going to tell. I can't say I'm an experienced director, maybe if you give me a script today, I will rip it to pieces tomorrow. This is personal for me and when something like this comes along, certainty comes even though you haven't done it before."
He also said working with children enriched the cast.
"A whole child-like world awoke in all the professional adult actors and I think this brings magic to the film, so the best thing we could've done was to work with children."
Abel then runs away from home with near disastrous consequences.
Abel, produced by Canana films, will hit cinema theatres across Mexico on Friday (May 28). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.
