Breathe
By Mariana Conde
"Aunt, thank you for recommending this film to me, I liked it and I also understood that Mara can do many more things than I imagined, that we all can", was the message I received from my nephew when he came out of seeing The Pink Lagoon a few months ago. If I had already liked this film shot in my own Mérida, this comment confirmed to me the power of her story.
With October being Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I finally woke up and talked to Juan Arce, the director, and Monica Arce, his sister and main character:
⎯I wanted to make a film to show that people with Down syndrome can do anything and do things well, says Monica, the first actress with this condition to star in a feature film in Mexico.
The film was shot independently with public support through a crowdfunding campaign in which more than 500 contributors participated. Like many projects of conviction, it took years to achieve, but the result was well worth the wait.
⎯With Moni's command of "we can do things right", we took care of every detail and met the best standards, that's why we also delayed, quality costs. But we had to do it right, as she says.
La laguna rosa debuted in Mexico in April 2024 and, against all odds, did quite well at the box office. It managed to stay in theaters for several weeks in the CDMX and thanks to this result it was taken to other cities; in fact, it was the film with the largest opening at the Mexican box office in one of its weekends, surpassing other non-independent films with larger distribution and marketing budgets. Today it continues to do battle in different film festivals and competitions.
I cannot fail to point out that this success has been largely due to the mobilization that producers and Juan have generated to guarantee it. It turns out that despite having won more than 30 international awards -almost all for best film and best actress- it has been difficult to get La laguna rosa shown in Mexico, since distributors and exhibitors claim that Mexicans don't watch Mexican films and that, of course, no one watches films about disability. "Disability doesn't sell, it doesn't have famous actors... It's well made, a good actress, but the subject matter," are some of the comments Juan received along the way.
I hear movies about disability and I think of promotional videos for foundations showing people with disabilities smiling and with an account number at the end, not the seventh art. And art is what was achieved here.
⎯We don't think this is a film about disability. It is a story of humanity, of recognizing ourselves in the other and reminding us that we all have a place in society, comments Juan.
If we were to apply that reductionism to other examples, would we say that The Hours is a film about suicide? Or that The Shape of Water is about a subhuman, underwater creature? Would The Truman show simply be a parody of a reality show?
The Pink Lagoon is a film where disability is present, but it is not a story about disability. It explores the complexity of human relationships, our need to connect, to understand our place in the world and, certainly, how to overcome our own barriers, but not in the way everyone would imagine: the barriers are not in Mariana Zafra, the character - just as they are not in Moni, the actress, nor in people with disabilities - but in her environment and in those around her, even those closest to her.
⎯Juan and I wanted to do something together and since he was making short films I invited him for coffee and told him I wanted to be an actress, that I wanted to talk about ballet, name my character and talk about discrimination because I know what it's like to be discriminated against, recalls Moni.
The film shows intellectual disabilities in a different light, moving away from the stigma of the poor, the burden on the family, and shows us capabilities: autonomy, emotional management and above all self-determination, a concept that until recently was not often related to this group of people.
It is usually associated with dependency in every sense of the word, and in a brave but realistic proposal, La laguna rosa shows a girl with Down syndrome who, with the appropriate support, not only lives life as she wants, defends her ideas and pursues her goals, but is also capable of becoming an emotional support for others.
⎯I see Monica as very empowered, I knew she had many talents, but I didn't know she was a spokesperson for the rights of people with disabilities and I was impressed. The spotlight should be on them; representativeness has a big impact to break down prejudices.
Aesthetically it is well made and well directed, with solid, convincing performances and plausible situations. It fulfills the first rule of cinema, which is to entertain, because the plot is well handled and interesting, as well as having many light moments of comedy and irony. That is to say, it is not an apostolate to go to see it, it is a joy.
⎯It was a project between two brothers to fulfill shared dreams, we did not imagine the impact on others. Discovering that we are many families looking to build a better place for our loved ones and that this union and desire will make Mexico change to be more inclusive has been the most gratifying thing, Juan concludes. I agree with him and I see that future a little less distant.
Distribution is still the biggest challenge and they are currently trying to get some platform to bet on them, but again, it has not been easy. As a viewer, I hope they succeed because I would like to see it repeatedly and that it reaches so many people who have been left wanting to see it.
In the meantime, anyone who wants to enjoy this amazing film can attend the International Day of Persons with Disabilities screening at Cinemex Patriotismo on Tuesday, December 3 in collaboration with Familias Extraordinarias, which will include a talk with Juan and Moni. (Information and tickets coming soon on IG/FB: @FamiliasExtraordinarias or contacto@familiasextraordinarias.comas well as @lagunarosafilm.)
And if you have children, be sure to take them the next time The Pink Lagoon is presented at a movie theater in your city, because in addition to having a good time, they will leave with a new perspective on the realization of dreams.
"The cadence and sweet rhythms of the narrative and the superb performance of leading lady Monica Arce as Mariana will touch viewers of this film who will come away happy with the experience." ⎯St. Louis International Film Festival, Missouri. Winner of the Audience Award 31st Edition.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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