The Californer - Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles proudly presents the streaming of the film "Malpaso" (Dominican Republic)

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As part of the Cine Nepantla program Malpaso is a film that showcases the connection between neighboring countries Dominican Republic and Haiti.

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) is pleased to present its Cine Nepantla program with the streaming of the film Malpaso directed by Hector M. Valdez. This film is part of this year's Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.

The streaming is available September 16 - 24, 2023 and can be streamed for free of charge on: https://www.lacla.org/cine-nepantla-2023

After the screening you can watch a special Q & A (in Spanish and English) with filmmaker Hector M. Valdez, conducted by LACLA Program Manager, Guido Segal.

Watch Trailer- Spanish – English Subtitles: https://youtu.be/hvngj9Xm4f8

Malpaso tells the story of two orphaned siblings, one born of the night, the other born of the Moon. They live in the southwestern region of the Dominican Republic and the hostile border of Haiti. It is a neglected portion of country in which the day to day problems that arise are often a matter of survival. The story is told through the eyes of Candido, an albino boy who must face the reality of border life for the first time after his grandfather's passing. His twin brother Braulio, who grew up helping their grandfather sell coal in the marketplace while Candido remained secluded at home, becomes his brother's sole protector; but begins to lose himself in the process by justifying his actions.

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Filmed in a documentary style using natural chaotic settings, Malpaso echoes the realities led by the youth living in the margins of society as well as the tense coexistence of two very different countries and cultures sharing the same island.

Malpaso evokes a place where dreams fade away from a young age, and those that dare to dream, pay the price through their naïveté. Malpaso is director Valdez's most personal film to date; made to give a voice to the youth in the most neglected region of his country: the Haitian-Dominican border.

Hector M. Valdez began making short films as a teenager and throughout his university years, at McGill University. His film, Melocotones, was a Yellow Robin nominee at the IFFR-Curaçao and was selected as the 'Film of the Festival' at the Raindance Film Festival. This distinction granted him the opportunity to write and direct the official trailer for the '26th Raindance Film Festival' in 2018 which received wide media exposure in the UK.

Nepantla is a Nahuatl word which describes the state of living in-between different cultures. It can also refer to living in the borderlands or being at a literal or metaphorical crossroads. In line with this concept, Cine Nepantla aims to create a space in which meaningful dialogue among audiences of different socio-economic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, ages, abilities, genders, sexualities, nationalities, and religions can take place and effect change.

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For 25 years, the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) has been championing and screening feature and short films by LatinX filmmakers from all over the Americas.

Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) is a California non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cultural exchange through film by screening classic and contemporary films from America and by USA Latinas and Latinos. LACLA also supports the film and media efforts of Los Angeles inner-city middle and high school students with its annual student film festival. https://www.lacla.org/