The story seems simple enough:  An elderly man returns to his homeland to build a house for his family.  And this man, Julian, seems a congenial, inviting presence:  Always offering food, drink, and conversation.  But in Iliana’s Sosa’s new documentary about her beloved grandfather, “What We Leave Behind,” there’s always a sense of mystery lurking.  

Sosa builds this tone through her beautiful cinematography which captures not only everyday Mexican life, but also the deeper time of a place which contains the ruins of “The House of 100 Doors”--built for a demanding Spanish bride–as well as a rock named “El Castillo” where witches live.  The result is a very personal film which also pulls us into the history of a family both Mexican and American, as well as the broader cultural and even economic relationship between the two nations. The film ultimately poses the question to all of us:  What will be our legacy?

What We Leave Behind is now playing on Netflix.

Hidden Gem:  A Married Couple

Follow:

@whatweleavebehindfilm on instagram

@la_ili_sosa on instagram and @boderchild on twitter

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