On my third night of the festival, I watched a film that hit a little close to home. From Panamanian director Ana Endara comes a film that examines the challenges of caring for an older adult whose mental state is declining due to dementia. The movie also portrays the challenges that undocumented immigrants may face in Panama. It shows that they often have to resort to dishonest behavior simply for the chance of a better life.
In Panama City, Ana Maria, a Colombian immigrant, lives and works in Panama to earn enough money to legalize her residency there in hopes of providing her child with a better life. Mercedes (Paulina Garcia) is an older, widowed woman who lives alone on her more luxurious estate but has begun displaying the signs of symptoms of a person going through dementia. Mercedes’ daughter Jimena (Juliette Roy) hires Ana Maria to be her mother’s assistant and caregiver, as she or any of her siblings are unable to stay with her constantly. In exchange for her work, Ana Maria gets to stay in the house, and Jimena has agreed to assist her with her illegal status.
Initially, Mercedes resents Jimena and Ana Maria because she claims that she does not need a “babysitter.” However, because Mercedes is often lonely, she eventually warms up to Jimena and welcomes her company and help. Though the two come from very different backgrounds, both Ana Maria and Mercedes develop mutual respect and become dear friends.
I found this film to be quite moving and emotional. Writer/director Ana Endara and co-writer Pilar Moreno have crafted a poignant and heart-wrenching portrait of two distinct souls coming together and forming a connection. Ana Maria is young and trying to set her life and that of her child on a better course, leading to a better future. Mercedes faces her mortality while her mental health declines. Both friends learn a great deal about each other and their lives. Both Paulina Garcia and Jenny Navarrete are incredible in this movie. The two actors share a beautiful chemistry that closely mimics the relationship between a mother and a daughter.
At the beginning of this review, I stated that this film resonated with me because I have helped my older sister care for our 91-year-old mother. However, she is not quite as bad (mentally) as the Mercedes character. My mother often gets confused. She frequently forgets things and shares some similar habits and characteristics with the Mercedes character. Though I know it is unavoidable, I do not look forward to my mother’s condition worsening. Anyone who has cared for an older parent or relative will relate to this film. As of now, Querido Tropico is not available in the United States.