DIRECTOR STATEMENT:
My uncle's tragic murder four years ago, and my cousin's imprisonment for a sixty-year sentence have left deep imprints on my life. My grandfather's sporadic stints in jail were a regular occurrence, shaping my understanding of the world during my formative years. Our struggles were not unique, as our neighbors shared in our hardships. We may have fit into certain stereotypes perceived from the outside, but inside our home, we laughed, loved, and cried. Our experience was not just a Latino experience but a universal human experience.
When my dear friend Bobby Soto (whose grandfather died serving a life sentence, and his mother is eleven years into a fifteen-year sentence) wrote this screenplay, I connected deeply to his story because of his elevated understanding of the responsibility of authentically telling a story like this. For Mundo, I deliberately selected a location filled with mirrors, highlighting the profound choices and dualities we face. The lenses closely resemble the human eye, intensifying Mundo's constant sense of scrutiny. I positioned characters Carla and C as central pillars within the frame to symbolize his separation from himself and his sweetheart Soleil. Furthermore, the use of vertical tiled glass creates a prison-like effect, reflecting Mundo's haunting past. Casting Otmara Marrero, who shares a personal connection with incarceration, ensured authentic, nuanced performances. Lastly, the implementation of prison sound design serves as a haunting reminder of how Mundo's past shapes his future.
Mundo is a story told from the inside. It is an intimate and genuine portrayal of Bobby Soto's and my experience with "familia." I deeply relate to Mundo's struggles with family dynamics and the world he comes from because I understand the challenges of making choices when conditioned to repeat destructive patterns. But above all, I know the desire for a better life when you struggle to imagine it.
Life's hardships plague those without privilege, perpetuating generational poverty and trauma. My history, which I struggle to accept, guides my lens toward the truth of the human experience. Mundo provided an extraordinary opportunity to explore a man's pursuit of grace amidst life's personal and familial challenges. Like Mundo, I was raised in an environment where self-care was elusive, and redemption rarely graced the screen for those with brown skin. Yet, I refuse to let reality constrain me. We may not alter our origins, but we can shape our cinematic portrayal.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Eva Longoria, Bobby Soto, and the entire crew of Mundo for allowing me to tell a Latino story not only as I see it but as I have experienced it.
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