Cinema Tucsón · Martínez

About This Event

Cinema Tucsón presented a Tucson screening of "Martínez," a 2023 feature film from Mexico, at the Fox Tucson Theatre on April 19, 2023. The event was part of Cinema Tucsón, a presentation by Cinema Tropical and the University of Arizona Center for Latin American Studies, in partnership with the Fox Tucson Theatre and the Consulate General of Mexico in Tucson. The film was shown in Spanish with English subtitles, and director Lorena Padilla was scheduled to participate in a question-and-answer session.

"Martínez" is Padilla's debut feature as a writer-director. The film is set in Guadalajara and stars Chilean actor Francisco Reyes, who is identified in the event description as the protagonist of the Academy Award-winning film "A Fantastic Woman." Padilla's story follows an older man whose quiet, repetitive routine is disrupted by two developments: the arrival of Pablo, the employee who will replace him as he approaches retirement, and the death of a neighbor he never knew.

Martínez works as an accountant and is described as lonely, grumpy, and accustomed to a monotonous life. When Pablo begins working beside him, Martínez is forced to confront the loss of the stability he has taken for granted. At the same time, his neighbor is found dead in her home after several days. Although the two had never met, Martínez gradually begins uncovering details about her. His interest in the circumstances surrounding her death changes his behavior, leading his co-worker to believe that he has found a new girlfriend.

The film's central story is a personal crisis that develops through retirement, isolation, and an unexpected connection to the life of a stranger. As Martínez investigates the details of his neighbor's death, the process positively affects his conduct and unsettles the assumptions others have made about him. The event description presents the neighbor's death not only as a mystery within the plot, but also as the turning point that helps Martínez recognize that his own life is still ahead of him.

The Tucson presentation brought together a range of local, regional, and cultural supporters. It was sponsored by Rio Nuevo, La Estrella Bakery, SplitSeed Productions, and the University of Arizona Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Media sponsors included 92.5 FM Urbana, La Poderosa 105.3 FM, and KXCI 91.3 FM. Film Tucson, Visit Tucson, and Godat Design provided additional support, along with the Tucson Museum of Art and Borderlands Brewery. Cinema Tucsón's partnership with the University of Arizona, the Fox Tucson Theatre, and the Consulate General of Mexico in Tucson placed this Spanish-language film within a Tucson setting shaped by film, arts, and cross-border cultural connections.

The screening took place at the Fox Tucson Theatre, a nonprofit venue in Tucson, and was listed as an event that has passed and is no longer on sale. Visitors seeking future Cinema Tucsón programs can look for upcoming event information through the Cinema Tucsón website.