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With a fictional view into the very real world of Guatemalan drug trafficking, director Veronica Riedel\u2019s \u201cCapsulas\u201d delves deep into corruption, violence and greed.<\/p>\nWith a fictional view into the very real world of Guatemalan drug trafficking, director Veronica Riedel\u2019s \u201cCapsulas\u201d delves deep into corruption, violence and greed.<\/p>\n
Winner of South Florida\u2019s Women International Film Festival for Best Dramatic Feature Film, \u201cCapsulas\u201d has been a multiple-award winning sensation on the Latino International Film Festival circuit.<\/p>\n
When asked in an email interview if she came under pressure from drug traffickers during the film\u2019s production, Riedel responded, \u201cI am a little nervous of showing it in my country because I do say that drug dealers can be anybody. People are killed every day for vengeance reasons. It would be crazy for them to do something to me, but since these people are super crazy, I don\u2019t know what can happen. I have taken precautions in case.\u201d<\/p>\n
In her directorial debut, Riedel, one of Guatemala\u2019s first female directors, courageously reveals social injustice through the eyes of 12-year old Fonsi.<\/p>\n
On the surface, Fonsi lives a privileged life. However, his home environment becomes difficult when his U.S. bound stepfather forces Fonsi to swallow heroin capsules and his mother refuses to let him look for his biological father.<\/p>\n
Rebelling against his mother, Fonsi looks for a way to escape his deteriorating, increasingly cruel home life and leads his friends in making fake violent videos as a way to raise money in the search for his biological father.\u00a0 Guatemala\u2019s social conflict is reflected in Fonsi\u2019s life when the maid\u2019s pot smoking, drug-dealing kids threaten Fonsi and show up uninvited at his school, start a fight and leave a teacher unconscious on the ground.<\/p>\n
Director Riedel\u2019s dream of producing \u201cCapsulas\u201d was many years in the making. She faced enormous challenges in financing her film and for 15 years raised money through her sales as an artist and photographer. \u201cI was financed through people that know my art work and have faith in all the projects I do,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n
Respect for a new and female director from the crew of 43, did not come easily. \u201cHiring the crew was interesting because I think they wanted to test me all the time. But I did my homework as a producer and as a director. I was prepared all the time. I made decisions, included everyone in taking them, but I was firm getting the best outcome. By the end of the first shooting day, everyone new I was in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Riedel grew up in a violent environment\u2014Guatemala emerged from a 36-year civil war in 1996\u2014yet her spirit remains, and she loves storytelling.\u00a0 She purposely chose a feature film format over documentary style because\u00a0 a narrative, entertainment-style drama with music, in her words, \u201ccaptures the brain and the heart faster.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the emerging Guatemalan film community, Riedel is leading the way for new technology, having shot \u201cCapsulas\u201d on an HD Red One Camera. The film\u2019s score features original hip-hop and opera music sung by soprano J\u00e9ssika Ar\u00e9valo.<\/p>\n
When asked what she wants her audiences to come away with from \u201cCapsulas,\u201d Riedel, a mother of three, replied that she wants “parents to do something to change things. If I change one heart, that\u2019s what I needed for my life to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Spanish with English subtitles.<\/p>\n
Video interviews:
\nhttp:\/\/www.parstimes.com\/film\/director\/riedel\/<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2fbn_u-EJQU<\/a><\/p>\n