The Apostle (Spanish: El apostolado) is a 2020 Guatemalan drama film written, directed and produced by Juan Manuel Méndez in his directorial debut.[1] The film was shortlisted by the Guatemalan Association of Audiovisual and Cinematography along with La Llorona and Luz to represent Guatemala in the category of Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Award, but was not chosen.[2] But it was chosen to represent Guatemala in the category of Best Ibero-American Film at the 36th Goya Awards, however, it was not nominated.[3]
| El apostolado | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Juan Manuel Mendez |
| Written by | Juan Manuel Mendez |
| Produced by | Juan Manuel Mendez |
| Starring | Sebastián de la Hoz Andrea Gálvez Devayani Morales |
| Cinematography | Juan Brenner Pablo Valladares |
| Edited by | Domingo Lemus Juan Manuel Mendez |
| Music by | Luis Pedro González |
Production company | Vizconde Producciones |
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | Guatemala |
| Language | Spanish |
Synopsis
editIn a city where corruption, abuse and violence are our daily bread, a priest spends his days listening to people who search for the relief of telling their problems in exchange for a hot meal. Everything will change when he'll meet two women that will make his search to take another turn.[4]
Cast
editIdealization
editMendel at the beginning had great ambitions for the project, trying to carry it out in France, however, it was a very difficult challenge due to financing issues, so Méndez thought it would be more viable to make a smaller film, quoting his words: "I needed to record something that was achievable and above all affordable. I had the idea of this character who liked to help people and among everything that made me more logical I had the image of this priest".[6]
Release
editEl apostolado had planned a commercial release in theaters in Guatemala in 2020, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] Later, it was announced that the film will have a digital release on Vimeo on Demand between September 18, 2020, and 25 of the same month.[8]
Reception
editEl Periodico stated that the film was about "people who change", in particular in the case of priests in regard to their relation with women.[9] An article in La Hora recalls the difficulties encountered during the production of the film and insists the story could be about any priest in Guatemala or anywhere in Latin America.[10] The Diario de Centro América concurs it is a film about good and evil, and faith and ethics but states the film contains various typically Guatemalan elements.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Juan Manuel Méndez nos presenta su película "El Apostolado"". Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ ""El Apostolado", "Luz" y "La Llorona", son las películas guatemaltecas preseleccionadas para los Premios Óscar 2021" (in Spanish). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ Valencia, Angélica (2021-09-09). "Pelicula guatemalteca "El Apostolado" busca nominación en los premios Goya 2022 · La Voz de Xela". La Voz de Xela (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ "Sobre el Film". El Apostolado (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Elenco". El Apostolado (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ Grajeda, Candy (2020-09-17). "Cineasta guatemalteco estrenará su película El Apostolado y podrá verse en línea". Guatemala.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ "Película "El Apostolado", dirigida por Juan Manuel Méndez, se estrenará en línea" (in Spanish). 17 September 2020. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ "SE ESTRENA "EL APOSTOLADO", NUEVA PELÍCULA GUATEMALTECA". Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ ""El Apostolado", cine nacional en línea". elPeriodico de Guatemala (in Spanish). 2020-09-19. Archived from the original on 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
- ^ Gonzalez, Edith (2020-09-19). "Juan Manuel Méndez y "El Apostolado"". La Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-05-17.
- ^ Lepe, David (2020-09-25). "El Apostolado: el bien y el mal" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-05-17.
External links
edit- The Apostle at IMDb