BELOVED TROPIC
[QUERIDO TRÓPICO]
Desperate for Panamanian citizenship, Ana María (Jenny Navarrete) is a pregnant Colombian immigrant looking for work. She accepts a meager salary to become the caretaker for Mercedes (Paulina Garcia): a wealthy, capricious woman facing an early onset dementia diagnosis. Should Ana María last longer than the previous aids that Mercedes scared off, she is promised permanent status. Though their relationship starts off a little rocky, the two slowly learn to depend on one another. An accomplished documentarian, director Ana Endara makes her narrative feature debut with this heartfelt gem that avoids melodrama, instead showcasing the quiet bonds between two women reaching out for connection. Garcia’s wonderfully complex performance reminds us why she is a titan of Latin American cinema, while Navarrete’s tender role is a true breakout. –Josh Gardner
Official Selection, 2024 Toronto and San Sebastián film festivals; Golden Gate Award, Cine Latino Competition, 2025 San Francisco Film Festival. DIR/SCR Ana Endara; SCR Pilar Moreno; PROD Isabella Gálvez. Panama/Colombia, 2024, color, 108 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED
Run Time: 108 Minutes
Opening Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
Genre: Drama
