Filmmaker Juanma Bajo Ulloa presents History of a Rock Band

Bajo Ulloa filmed a behind-the-scenes documentary of the last concerts the
rock band presented before disintegrating in 2008. The leader of the band,
Mariano Casanova, is the main character in this intimate portrait, which is full
of moving testimonies about the injustices in the commercial music industry. The
filmmaker was present during the screening as well as Casanova, who received
words of encouragement from the audience for his extraordinary talent. Even
though both of then insisted that Distrito 14 would never unite again, “this is
an actual farewell,” Casanova said, the musician promised to keep on making
music. The audience insisted that if he did, he must come to Mexico. “For sure,”
he said.

Daniela Michel, director of FICM, was present during the Q & A session.
She was very moved and thanked Spain and its people for the opportunity to show
more Spanish movies at the Morelia International Film Festival. Almost on the
verge of tears, Michel explained that the reason why she was so emotional was
because this festival was founded thanks to the support from one of her film
teachers: Jose Maria Escriche, director of the Huesca Film Festival in Spain,
who died recently. The festival paid tribute to the director at FICM 2008
following his death. Sala 1 of Cinépolis Centro is now named after Escriche.
 

The documentary was programmed on Spain’s National Day, which FICM
celebrated with an extensive selection of Spanish films, like Broken Embraces,
by Pedro Almodóvar and Bad Day to Go Fishing, by Alvaro Brechner. At night the
Spanish Embassy hosted a cocktail party organized at the Hotel Catedral. 

Translated by Lorena Villa Parkman