The internal struggle of Sylvia, a passionate young theater actress, to maintain her independence at the cost of her degenerative illness.

Interview with Writer/Director Sahori Pacheco

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thanks!, well, it all started as a school project to obtain my professional degree, we had to create a short film by our own means. That was the assignment to achieve but my personal goal was to explore in a visual and poetic way, my very own demons and fears about losing the ability to create whatever makes life worthwhile to you.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

It’s not a happy ending story and the narrative is unconventional but there's a lot of beauty in its fatalism and you feel aroused, touched and transgressed, all at once.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I think they're intertwined. I used my personal fetishes such as voyeurism, poetry and dramatic literature to tell a story about passion, autonomy, illness, grief and stillness in order to break the moral and social conventions, that have always repudiated the self-inflicted ends, to dig up the condemnation that accompanies the existence of human being: the freedom to decide.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?

It's been incredibly wild! You feel like Victor Frankenstein watching the story come alive. When the crew is getting involved in the creative process, the necessities of the story evolve in a real dimension. An example of this kind of challenge was to find the perfect locations to shoot the story. For the home of Sylvia, we needed an ancient building to create the nostalgic environment of her decay, luckily we found the ideal place but we suffered tons before finding it.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The response of the audience has been fabulous and insane at a time. I think cinema is meant to be seen and Saudade has had the opportunity to be screened at film festivals around the world, to places I had never imagined; that's an amazing chance to create emotions on other viewers besides your friends and family. Some people have cried, felt touched after watching it, others have reflected on their own experiences... that's why you become a storyteller and make films.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

It has encouraged my desire to become a filmmaker. In Mexico we have a historical cinematographic tradition but there's a lack of industry and audience, so it's not always easy to get the funds that the government institute provides to make cinema, or make your film to be screened. It turns to be a struggle more than a profession - but it's totally worthwhile.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

Get a wider audience and establish a dialogue between viewers and independent filmmakers.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Sales agents, buyers, journalists and producers.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

To be aware of our decisions instead of judging them. Lots of times it's not just a matter of good or bad choices but on being, deciding and doing.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Could you be completely dependent on the care of others?

What happens if they take away the reason that keeps you alive?

Would you like to add anything else?

If you'd like to watch the film, please email me at sahori.pacheco@gmail.com

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Me and my crew are raising up a new short film called Abanderado that denounces an important political issue of censorship in my country from a child's point of view. It's going to be hilarious, cathartic and rough...

I'm also writing a screenplay, to produce later another short film, that reflects the idiosyncrasy that Mexico has about death and loss.

Interview: January 2017

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

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Saudade

The internal struggle of Sylvia, a passionate young theater actress, to maintain her independence at the cost of her degenerative illness.

Length: 16 minutes.

Director: Sahori Pacheco.

Producer: Alejandra Rey.

Writer: Sahori Pacheco.

About the writer, director and producer:

Sahori Pacheco is an independent filmmaker from Mexico City. She's currently developing short films as script writer, director and producer. She would've liked to live in the 20's and be a theater actress.

Key cast: Paulette Hernández, Sergio Bonilla, Miguel Cane.

Looking for: producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors and journalists.

Funders: Crowdfunding.

Made in association with: Uno en lo Uno Films, Art Kingdom.

Where can I see it in the next month? Coming soon on Vimeo.