We Are Mari Pepa
(Somos Mari Pepa)
Samuel Kishi Leopo | Comedy, Drama, Fiction, Musical, Classic
2013 | 95 minutes | Mexico
Alex has big plans for his summer in Guadalajara. He'll get a girlfriend and a new job, learn a new song with his band, Mari Pepa, and win the ”battle of the bands” concert.
Synopsis
Alex has big plans for his summer in Guadalajara. He hopes to get a girlfriend, make money with a new job, learn a new song with his band, Mari Pepa, and win the upcoming ”battle of the bands” concert. His summer expectations quickly become impossible to fulfill as he realizes everything in his life is shifting. Increasingly worried about his deteriorating grandmother, Alex realizes he must learn to deal with loneliness and begin to say goodbye to his innocence.
Armed with a full cast of local untrained actors and based on the director/writer’s personal memories, Somos Mari Pepa is a love letter to, and a voyage through, the alleys and garages of Atemajac, Jalisco. Establishing director Samuel Kishi Leopo as a new, exciting voice in independent Mexican cinema, the film skillfully and comically captures the breakdown of adolescent rebellion in a period in which boys are forced to become men. - AFI Fest
Reviews
"A gently endearing portrait of four amiable Mexican teenagers feeling their way toward adulthood." - Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times
"Samuel Kishi Leopo makes an appealing feature debut with this tender, pitch-perfect coming-of-ager." - Alissa Simon, Variety
"Kishi Leopo demonstrates a good eye for youth culture and the foibles of adolescence and manages to imbue his characters with an infectious and youthful spirit that the young actors, all encoring, unaffectedly get across in their characterizations." - Bouyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter
Citation
Main credits
Kishi Leopo, Samuel (film director)
Kishi Leopo, Samuel (screenwriter)
Gallardo, Alejandro (actor)
Ramirez, Arnold (actor)
Galindo, Moisés (actor)
Iñiguez, Petra (actor)
Andrade Muñoz, Rafael (actor)
Gómez Córdova, Sofía (screenwriter)
Rodríguez, Antonio (film producer)
Other credits
Cinematography, Octavio Arauz; editing, Jordi Capó, Carlos Espinoza; music, Kenji Kishi.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Cinema Studies
Classic Films
Economics + Social Class Issues
Family
Health + Aging
Music
Youth
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Berlin International Film Festival; Morelia International Film Festival; Ariel Awards - Best New Actor, Best New Actress, Best Score Nominee; Miami Film Festival - Ibero American Opera Prima Award Special Mention; Toulouse Latin America Film Festival - Prix CCAS
DIRECTOR: Samuel Kishi Leopo
NATIONALITY: Mexico
YEAR: 2013
GENRE: Comedy, Drama, Fiction, Musical, Classic
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School, College, Adults
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.
Related Films
Album for the Youth
Álbum para la juventud
Arenal
Neither Hero nor Traitor
Ni héroe ni traidor
Porcelain Horse
Mejor no hablar (de ciertas cosas)
Urgent Love
Amor urgente
Blast Beat
Love & Mathematics
Amor y matemáticas
Spider Thieves
Niñas araña
War Animals
Animales de guerra
Los Lobos
Los lobos
Rota n' Roll
Sublime
On the Roof
El techo
The Year of the Radio
El año del radio
Related Collections
Fiction Films
A compelling glimpse into Spain and Latin America's rich storytelling traditions, showcasing a blend of established directors and emerging voices. Each film highlights the depth and creativity of the region.
Number of titles: 266
SEE COLLECTION >Romance Reel
Indulge in the timeless allure of love with a captivating collection of films destined to leave you breathless and longing for more.
Number of titles: 32
SEE COLLECTION >Spanish Language Films
A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.
Number of titles: 440
SEE COLLECTION >Music
A captivating glimpse into the rich and vibrant musical traditions of this diverse region.
Number of titles: 37
SEE COLLECTION >The Arts
A fascinating journey into the creative process and the transformative power of artistic expression.
Number of titles: 113
SEE COLLECTION >High School Collection
Given varying criteria for content ratings and age restrictions in different regions, Pragda STREAM recommends faculty watch films in their entirety before assigning them to students.
Number of titles: 509
SEE COLLECTION >The Pragda Complete Film Collection
The essence of Spain and Latin America captured in their original language with English captions or subtitles.
Number of titles: 637
SEE COLLECTION >Our Essential 100 Titles
A hand-picked selection of our must-have films showcasing the very best of Spanish, Latin American and Latinx cinema.
Number of titles: 100
SEE COLLECTION >Mexican Films
A collection of fascinating titles, from recent films to restored jewels, that highlight the significance of Mexican cinema’s quality and status while encompassing different aspects of the country's culture and traditions.
Number of titles: 76
SEE COLLECTION >