Parts of a Family 2012
Parts of a Family is a portrait of how a relation between two people after many years of marriage can change from great love into a strangling imprisonment. It's their son who observes them and tells their story.

Gonzalo and Gina live in a world of their own; a magnificent villa on a 4.000 m2 estate, near Mexico City. Walls with barbed wire keep the outside world far away. It's their son, filmmaker Diego Gutierrez who tells their story. Parts of a Family is a portrait of how a relation between two people after many years can change from great love into a strangling imprisonment. It's a bittersweet and universal love story.

A documentary film by Diego Gutierrez

'Parts of a Family' won a Golden Calf for Best Documentary at the Dutch Filmfestival 2013 and the FIPRESCI Award at the Thessaloniki International Filmfestival 2013

IMCINE - CONACULTA, BONANZA FILMS & EL DESPACHO

Trailer

Parts of a family is a bittersweet and universal love story. What stays behind when the great passion of being in love has slowly faded away, and the years have been passing by?

Gonzalo and Gina Gutierrez live in a world of their own; a huge villa on a 4.000 square meter estate, near Mexico City. Walls with barbed wire keep the outside world far away. It’s their son, filmmaker Diego Gutierrez who tells their story. Fifty years ago Gonzalo proposed to Gina after one week of dating. They got married after two months. Gonzalo developed a blooming career as a doctor; Gina took care of the children and the house, together with her nanny and other servants.

Gonzalo just retired and claims he has finally discovered his real vocation: writing. He's about to become 80 and wants to celebrate this with jumping with a parachute. Gina feels lonely, tired and angry. Gonzalo lives his own life without taking her into account. He does not see her value in running the house and he never takes her out. She is too scared to leave the property on her own. The underlying resentment between them becomes more tangible. Their safe haven has paradoxically become their prison, their "cold war" battlefield, it seems. But is there a chance they'll find each other back?

Crew:

Direction and camera: Diego Gutiérrez

Editing: Danniel Danniel

Sound design: Mark Glynne

Production: Diego Gutiérrez, Harmen Jalvingh & JB Macrander

Additional camera & assistance : Linda Bannink

Development assistance: Daan Wijdeveld

Written by Diego Gutiérrez and Joan Morselt

Music: Tembembe Ensamble Continuo

Line producer: Orianna Calderón

Contact

Diego Gutierrez: eldespacho@gmail.com
Linda Bannink: lindabannink@gmail.com