The stories told by seventh art, many times they are inspired by real lifebut the filmmaker Ruben Rojo Aura he took his mother’s story for him film Couragein which she herself stars and which served as a kind of family therapy, she said.
“I had been wanting to do one for a while. movie more personal and after thinking a lot I decided to talk to my mother and tell her that I wanted to tell the story of what I was living at the movies and she didn’t have any problems, she trusted me, in the treatment I was going to give her and she said yes.
“Then I thought she could be the actress. I mean, your mom being an actress, of course you would have wanted to work with her one day and she said yes. He was excited, also to play the role of his son I turned to my brother and later to my cousin to play another role,” said the film-makerin an interview with this medium.
You may be interested in: Silvia Pinal will be honored in the 2nd edition of FICXILITLA
To Marta Auraprotagonist and mother of the director, this had a lot of meaning, since one of her big complaints was the opportunities for elderly actors in this type of projects.
“He always told me that it was very sad and even unfair that the elderly did not have real opportunities in the cinema, they were always included in very small roles, almost not even thinking about them being protagonists”, which is why Rubén he did it. “I was able to give him his first and only leading role in his entire career,” said the director.
You may be interested in: The history of Mexicali in the book ‘Pedro Infante in the Cine Short’
The film tells the story of Alma, a woman suffering from an illness that threatens with slowly making her blind, which could leave her without a job about to start Mother Courage and her Childrenthe Bertolt Brecht. At the same time, her eldest son returns from Madrid in an attempt to recover from alcoholism, without warning
Although the film is fiction, the background is real and the relationship between mother and son is in a game of recognition of one over the other. through suffering and even existentialism.
You may be interested: Ariana Grande reveals her desire to promote her career as an actress
“It was a kind of therapy to bring up this topic, to show the wounds and try to heal them, to reflect on the situation in a different way, to see it from the outside. Of course he didn’t just hit my mother or my brother, he hit us all as a family,” he said.
Marta Aura passed away in 2022, but this film remains a moving testimony of life for her family.
The first actress Marta Aura worked in the films The Divine Narcissus and in soap operas like Quinceanera, Love in Silence, Dance with me, Small Town Big Hell. In the theater he stood out in works such as Medea, of Euripides.
“It’s sad to see her again, because of course we remember my mother and how hard this last part of her life was for her, but it also encourages me to know that I was able to represent her and give her something that she wanted and that she felt comfortable with. the results”, concluded the director Rubén Rojo Aura.
Courage is about to hit theaters starting November 28, after having run through various world festivals.
Related
What themes does Ruben Rojo Aura explore in his film *Courage*?
Time.news Interview with Filmmaker Ruben Rojo Aura
Editor: Welcome, Ruben. It’s great to have you with us today. Your film Courage is generating a lot of buzz, especially since it’s inspired by your mother’s story. Can you tell us what prompted you to tell this personal narrative?
Ruben Rojo Aura: Thank you for having me! I’ve been wanting to create a more personal film for a while. After much contemplation, I decided to talk to my mother about her experiences. The moment I brought it up, she embraced the idea and trusted me with her story. That trust was crucial in bringing this project to life.
Editor: That’s beautiful. It must have been quite a journey to involve your mother, Marta Aura, not just in the story but also as the leading actress. What was that experience like for both of you?
Ruben Rojo Aura: It was incredibly fulfilling. My mother has always expressed the sadness of not having significant roles as an older actress. By casting her as the lead, I was able to offer her the opportunity she rightly deserved. Not only did we capture a profound narrative, but we also made a statement about the representation of elderly actors in cinema.
Editor: Absolutely. The film’s premise revolves around Alma, a character facing the debilitating threat of blindness while navigating family dynamics, particularly with her son. How did you intertwine your real-life experiences with the fictional elements of the story?
Ruben Rojo Aura: The story of Alma reflects multiple layers of reality—from my mother’s challenges to our family’s struggles. While the plot is fictional, the emotional core is derived from our shared experiences, particularly around suffering, support, and existential questions. The narrative served as a form of family therapy; confronting these issues together allowed us to heal and understand each other better.
Editor: It sounds like a powerful transformative process. You mentioned that Courage touches on themes of recognition and healing. In what ways do you hope the audience connects with these themes?
Ruben Rojo Aura: I want viewers to reflect on the importance of familial relationships, especially between parent and child. The film reveals how we often struggle to communicate our wounds and fears. By showing these dynamics, I hope the audience can identify their own familial connections, perhaps encouraging conversations about care, vulnerability, and support.
Editor: That’s an important message. Marta, your mother, has left a significant legacy, yet sadly, she has passed away since the film’s completion. How do you feel her spirit is present in the film?
Ruben Rojo Aura: Her spirit is profoundly embedded in every frame. We honored her not only through her performance but also through the authenticity of her story. I believe that as audiences experience Courage, they will feel her passion and resilience. This film is not just my tribute to her life but a celebration of her art and legacy in cinema.
Editor: Thank you, Ruben. Your journey with Courage is inspiring, and it’s heartening to see real-life stories being embraced in the film industry. We look forward to seeing the impact this film will have on its audience.
Ruben Rojo Aura: Thank you for this opportunity to share our story! It means a lot to me and my family.