"CARA DE VIEJA"
("Face of an Old Woman")
SYNOPSIS:
Sonia is a Honduran Garifuna (Black Carib) woman searching to put
together the pieces of her fractured youth. Before immigrating to Los
Angeles at age 17, she was raped by an American soldier in her home
country. "Cara de Vieja" captures a day in Sonia's life as she
struggles to raise a fatherless child in a strange new world. She
dreams of education for her infant daughter, yet her status as an
"undocumented" worker proves a disadvantage in her daily battle against
racial and sexual discrimination in her own community. Memories of her
own mother motivate her to seek out the soldier, and this confrontation
with the father of her child gives her the strength to reconsider
herself as whole, letting go of the past and filling the holes in her
soul with love for her child.
PRODUCTION:
A 45 minute narrative 16mm color film to be shot at locations in
California with English and Spanish dialogue (about 50/50).
ISSUES:
This films exposes life at the threshold of the "187" era for a black
hispanic who is caught between these two cultural identities in a
society that attempts to label and segregate. The film reverses
assumed identity based on color, solidifies the primacy of the
mother-child bond, and expresses the importance of educating the
daughters.
ABOUT THE PRODUCER/DIRECTOR:
Ali Allie holds a B.A. in Theater Arts with an emphasis in Film/Video
Production from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Ali's
works have shown at international festivals in Canada, Belgium, Mexico,
Spain, and the United States. Most recent works include "Agua en La
Villa" (a musical interlude of children and water play in Honduras) and
"Mi Pinata" (a Mexican American woman's tragicomedic birthday story)
which have shown at The Chicago Latino Film Festival, Festival
Cinelatino San Francisco, San Antonio Cinefestival, and others. Ali's
main objective as a director/producer is to develop a larger body of
cinematic work that showcases talented women of color.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thank you for expressing interest in our project. We are still seeking
sources for Garifuna mythology as well as first hand immigration
stories. Medicine plants play an important role since the main
character attempts to heal herself of many ailments brought on by the
North American society.
Any sources of information or people that would like to share stories
as part of involvement are welcome, as well as actors.
Also the project desperately needs funding. We are applying for grants
and appreciate any help in this area as well.
Gracias por su interes en nuestro projecto. Todavia buscamos mytologia
Garifuna y cuentos de inmigracion. Plantas medicinales hacen un papel
importante cuando la protagonista trata de curarse de muchas
enfermidades de la sociedad Norteamericana.
Cualquier fuente de informacion o personas que quisieran dar cuentos
para involverse estaran bienvenidos, tambien actores.
Tambien necesitamos fondos desesperadamente. Estamos haciendo
solicitudes a organizaciones y estariamos muy agradecidos por ayuda en
esta area.
ali.allie@php.com
103 El Porton
Los Gatos, CA 95030-1125
Telephone: (408) 379-7419
cc: YOHAN@SIRIUS.COM