FR

Juanicas

Karina Garcia Casanova

2014

This autobiographical debut film is a heartbreaking chronicle of a family struggling with rootlessness and mental illness. When she learns that her brother Juan has returned to Quebec after spending some time in their birthplace, Mexico, Karina Garcia Casanova decides to film him. Her purpose is clear from the start : she is not interested in home movies; she is going to make a real film. And her project quickly takes a dramatic turn when Juan suffers a relapse into a desperate bout of depression and paranoia. It is not unusual for a debut film to come out of a very personal journey, but rare are those that demonstrate such mature introspection. Here, cinema is nothing less than an essential tool for reconstructing the self.

Movie Still
Movie Still

CREDITS

Dedicated to
Juan Garcîa Casanova
Written & directed by
Karina Garcîa Casanova
Cinematography by
Karina Garcîa Casanova, Pablo Alvarez-Mesa, Glauco Bermudez
Edited by
Karina Garcîa Casanova
Music by
Olivier Alary
Sound design and editing by
Katy Wood, Terry Rodman
Produced by
Karina Garcîa Casanova, Daniela Flori
Executive Producers
Bob Moore, Mila Aung-Thwin, Daniel Cross
Developed with the help of
Nathalie Barton and Ian Oliveri, Informaction
Produced with the financial participation of
Conseil des artes et des lettres Québec, Québec Crédit d'impôt cinéma et télévision Gestion Sodec, Sodec Québec, Canadian Heritage
AWARDS

Best Documentary from the Student Jury at RIDM

Grand Prize Winner of Doculab 1.0 of the Guadalajara Film Festival in Los Angeles (rough cut stage)

Special Mention for Best New Talent from the National Jury at RIDM

Special Jury mention for Best Ibero-American Documentary at Guadalajara Film Festival

Special Jury Mention for Best First Film at Rendez Vous du Cinéma Québécois