« The Pink Lagoon» by Juan Arce, Francisco Gallo

“The Pink Lagoon” has the freshness of a debutante voice and the depth of observation of a mature gaze, moving its audience by telling a story of fragility and beauty without ever using pathetic tones.

With Mexican-Canadian director Juan Arce we accompany Mariana, a young woman who loves ballet, art, and life. When she is invited to participate in a publicly funded dance event in the city of Merida, Yucatan, she seeks out her brother Arturo to ask for his help. Arturo, initially reluctant and standoffish, cannot resist the deep respect, sincerity, and true passion for dance that his sister, who has Down syndrome, exudes.

The film shows, with the plot of a tender road movie in which the journey becomes a metaphor for self-discovery, how putting ourselves in the position of helping those who are seemingly weaker reveals our own vulnerabilities that we thought we were hiding from the world.
This is what happens to Arturo, played by Gerardo Oñate, who finds himself questioning what he believes to be his certainties in life.

Arce, a graduate of the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and holder of an M.F.A. in screenwriting from York University in Toronto, Canada, succeeds in creating a touching and never moralistic film that concretely shows the audience the importance of a diverse look at art and life.
The authentic portrayal of Mariana, played by Arce’s sister Monica, is not only convincing but manages to instill a message of optimism with her unwavering will and her ability to stand up for her passion for performing.
“The Pink Lagoon” is a story of a family reunion, sensitively investigating the complex relationship between the quest for independence and a sense of belonging, and leaving the audience overwhelmed by the extraordinariness of small gestures that can turn a whole life upside down.