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Press Screening Las Oscuras Primaveras by Ernesto Contreras

Las oscuras primaveras / The Obscure Spring (2014) by Ernesto Contreras, from the Mexican Feature Film Section in competition at the 12^th FICM, was presented to the press at the Cinépolis Morelia Centro.

Ernesto Contreras is the director of the acclaimed film Párpados azules (2007), which won numerous prizes, including the Horizontes Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and two nominations at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007 (for the Golden Camera and Grand Prize of the Critics’ Week). In addition, in 2003, he received a special mention in the Mexican Short Film Section of FICM for Los no invitados (2003), which won an Ariel in 2004. He also made the documentary Seguir siendo: Café Tacvba (2010), which traces the trajectory of the famous rock group.

Las oscuras primaveras was written by Carlos Contreras, who is the director’s brother and with whom he usually works. The film deals with Igor and Pina, who have a deep and mutual desire, but cannot have a relationship until spring comes. José María Yazpik plays Igor and Irene Azuela, Pina.

The director Ernesto Contreras and the actors José María Yazpik, Irene Azuela, Cecilia Suarez and Hayden Meyenberg all attended the press conference.

 Ernesto Contreras on FICM:

“I thank the festival for having selected us to be part of the competition. The Morelia festival is very special to me, since my relationship with the Short Film Forum goes back many years.”

 Ernesto Contreras on spring:

“The film is about the demystification of spring because we always think of flowers, bees and birds. And there is a lot of that, but there is also the force of nature, the fight for survival and perpetuation.”

 Ernesto Contreras on the atmosphere in the film:

“We were very interested in creating an atmosphere that was grey and cold like winter, like that stage just before spring. The characters also have to do with this, with their way of talking, expressing themselves, of not knowing how to transmit their emotions.”

 Ernesto Contreras on the music in Las oscuras primaveras:

“Ever since I worked with Café Tacuba I thought about working more with the musicians and it occurred to me to ask Emmanuel del Real to be involved in this first experience as music composer for cinema. And it was an enriching process in which we went over many ideas. Emmanuel, in addition to being very talented, is also tremendously humble. All of a sudden, for me it was like, “Wow, it is amazing to be able to do a rolononón, but we need you to do  an unscore.’ And it was a very rich process.”

Hayden Meyenber (who played the boy in the film) on his acting work:

“I loved being an actor because it is like being yourself but in front of a camera, but you’re someone else. And the secret is to never look at the camera.”

Irene on interpreting a mother:

“When I told some colleagues that I was going to play the part of a mother, some told me ‘Maternity is very difficult, you don’t understand what is involved until you’re there’ and so obviously it was one of the ideas that scared me the most, but at the same time it was a huge challenge. The guidance of Ernesto made it easier in many ways because we sat down to work way ahead of time so that we could find how to connect, relate to one another, love each other and get upset with one another too.”

José María Yazpik on his performance:

“It’s a sad story, but I worked on it more from the point of view of a person who is frustrated.  I’m sure many of us who are here can identify with him, being in a relationship where there is love, affection and an established routine, but you’re not there. You don’t want to hurt the person you’re with, but you feel frustrated and you need other things to make you feel alive again. That’s happened to me, and that is why I identified very well with the character.”

The premiere of Las oscuras primaveras will be at a gala on Tuesday, October 21, at 6:15 pm at the Cinépolis Morelia Centro, with a red carpet and the presence of the talent.

Coverage by Gabriel Andrade Espinosa (@gabolonio)