10 · 22 · 23

Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard Unveil Commemorative Armchairs Prior to Grand Gala for MEMORY

Gustavo R. Gallardo

Actress Jessica Chastain and actor Peter Sarsgaard unveiled their commemorative armchairs at the Teatro Matamoros, as part of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), prior to the Grand Gala for Memory, a film by Mexican director Michel Franco.

The unveiling of commemorative armchairs is a tradition that honors special guests at the Morelia festival, and this time the unveiling was for the U.S. stars of the film.

Both actors revealed their armchairs amid applause from the audience, took their seats and thanked the festival for the gesture.

The moment was attended by the president of the festival, Alejandro Ramírez, and the founder and general director of FICM, Daniela Michel, who called Memory "a wonderful film."

She also praised the work of Oscar® winner Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard, the winner of the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival.

Michel Franco thanked FICM for presenting his film and those in attendance, including the festival's special guest, Willem Dafoe.

"Venice was very special (...) and we have also had the good fortune of presenting the film at other important festivals, but for me the Mexican audience is by far the most important," said the Mexican filmmaker, who has also made films such as Después de Lucía (2012), Nuevo orden (2020) and Chronic (2015).

Festival President Alejandro Ramírez praised the Mexican filmmaker's growth and welcomed the U.S. actors.

In Memory, Silvia works in a New York City public institution for adults with mental health problems. She leads a simple, structured life: her daughter, her job, her AA meetings. After a high school reunion party, Saul follows her home. She finds him soaking wet and freezing outside her door the next morning. Their surprise encounter will open the doors to the past, and deeply impact them.