LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA
21st MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
August 22 - September 2, 1997

Montreal, August 5, 1997 - The section on Latin American Cinema features films from Peru, Mexico, Argentina, Cuba and Brazil.

In Official Competition, Venezuela presents the world premiere of ONE LIFE AND TWO TRAILS (Una Vida y Dos Mandalos), a film by Alberto Arvelo written in collaboration with Freddy Sosa and Jorge Chac�n. On his 50th birthday, R�mer receives an old photograph. The picture brings back memories and draws him into a nostalgic, dreamlike state during which he has a premonition about the death of his mother. He sets out on a journey to the mountains where he grew up. Along the way, he comes to a fork in the road: one of the paths will lead him to an upsetting encounter with his past.

In Hors Concours (official selection, out-of-competition: THE CROSS (La Cruz) from Argentinian director Alejandro Agresti, illustrates the disintegration of a man heartbroken by the departure of his wife and two young daughters, and whose only objective is to rebuild his family at any cost. From Brazil, Bruno Barreto, presents FOUR DAYS IN SEPTEMBER. On September 4th, 1969, a group of Brazilian guerrillas successfully kidnap the American ambassador and demand the freedom of political prisoners.

From Peru, director Francisco J. Lombardi, winner of the Grand Prize of the Americas at the World Film Festival in 1990 for his film "Caidos del cielo", presents UNDER THE SKIN (Bajo la Piel), the story of a police officer who investigates murders inspired by the Moche people, a pre-Colombian culture known for their violent traditions. Augusto Cabada wrote the screenplay. The picture is a Peruvian-Spanish-German coproduction.

A Canada-France coproduction, CHILI, LA M�MOIRE OBSTIN�E, written by Eric Pittard and Andrea Guzman and directed by Chilean director Patricio Guzman, explores the theme of memory and the importance of not forgetting one's past. This documentary addresses a young generation of Chileans and aims to educate them about the truth surrounding the coup d'�tat of September 11, 1973.

Also from Chili, director Andres Wood presents his first feature-length film, FOOTBALL STORIES, based on a screenplay by Rene Arcos and Andres Wood. This film comprises three stories about football and the role of nature and geography in determining the experiences of the spectators.

Argentina presents three films:

Eliseo Subiela (El Lado Oscuro Del Corazon, Grand Prize of the Americas, WFF 1992, and No te mueras sin decirme a donde vas, The Public's Prize at the 1995 WFF), returns to the Festival with two films. "Pequenos Milagros" is presented in the Hors Concours Section (Official Selection, out-of-competition). In DESPABILATE AMOR, two 40-year-old men reunite with their old pals from the sixties and seventies. All together again in their hometown, they reminisce about the past, the joys and sorrows, and old love affairs.

The tango is the subject of the Argentine film CANCION DESESPERADA, written and directed by Jorge Coscia. Three tango dancers form a love triangle in which their joys and frustrations evoke the true spirit of the tango; a mixture of passion, desire, love, despair, obsession and death.

Also from Argentina, CITY OF GOD (Ciudad de Dios), directed by Victor A. Gonzalez who co-wrote the screenplay with Deborah Brandwajnman, tells the story of two wandering people for which there is no way out because they are unable to distinguish between good and evil.

Four stories unfold in Havana with love as the common theme. An Argentine-Cuban coproduction CLANDESTINE STORIES IN HAVANA (Historias Clandestinas en La Habana) will have its world premiere at the Festival. The film is written and directed by the Argentine Diego Musiak, whose film "Pictures of the Soul" was presented at the World Film Festival in 1995.

Circo Cappellari presents the world premiere of his latest movie, SIN QUERER, a Germany/Argentina/Switzerland/Spain coproduction. A young engineer arrives in a small remote village to build a highway. He is made most welcome by all the inhabitants who are thrilled that they will finally be connected to the outside world. But very soon the presence of the young engineer will upset the day-to-day life of the villagers who are ruled by rigid traditions and customs.

From Mexico, Victor Saca presents his first feature-length film THERE IS NO PAIN IN PARADISE (En el Paraiso no Existe Dolor). It tells the story of Manuel, a 35-year-old man for whom life seems nearly perfect, until one night, a series of strange events turn his world upside down.

RECIPES TO STAY TOGETHER (Cilantro y Perejil), by Mexican director Rafael Montero Garcia and based on a screenplay by Carolina Rivera and Cecelia Perez Grovas, explores the complexities of love as experienced by a young university student.

Conceived as a story about the abc's of love, LITTLE BOOK OF LOVE (Pequeno Dicionario Amoroso) is the first feature-length film by Brazilian director Sandra Werneck. Based on a screenplay by Paulo Halm and Jose Roberto Torero, the film analyzes fundamental human emotions such as desire, joy, fear and jealousy ... with a touch of humor.

Also from Brazil, O HOMEN NU (The Naked Man) is directed by Hugo Carvana. Silvio spends a great evening drinking beer in the company of a beautiful woman. He wakes up the next morning, bare naked in the lovely lady's bed. An unusual series of events force him outside,on the street, still naked. Silvio panics and runs from street to street looking for cover, while horrified and indignant neighbours look on.