Carmela is a single parent, a working mother and a polio victim, living with her son Jorge in Mexico City. Jorge, now in his late twenties, has Down syndrome. Together the two work and manage: Jorge needs his mother to survive, for Carmela, Jorge is the physical strength she lacks. Carmela is a life-affirming documentary of parenthood and disability.

Directed and edited by Guillermo López Pérez

Guillermo López Pérez was born February 14, 1972 in México City. He studied communication and photography in Mexico, and has been working as editor and technician in cinema since 2000. Carmela is his first documentary. Guillermo López Pérez lives currently in Montreal, Canada.

Statement by the director Guillermo López Pérez:

I have known Carmela all my life. When she told me the stories of her life, I was always impressed by the way she solved the upcoming problems: effectively but perhaps not the most diplomatic way. Her struggle and fight for the well-being of herself and her children deeply moved me, as did her happiness. She doesn’t have much in the material way, but with her love and positive attitude she has more than many people who have everything.

Carmela is a woman, who had nothing but useless legs reminding of childhood polio, and a son with Down syndrome. Yet Carmela is a remarkable woman, for she has been able to fight poverty and discrimination in a city of 23 million people.

I wanted to show her life and her stories to the world; not only because she has a fantastic personality, but also because with her story I can share the difficult situations of the third world, where there is no place and no compensation for disabled people.

Director of Photography: Alejandro Alcocer

Contact: FuseeFilms
3737 Hutchison #5,
Montréal, QC, H2X 2H4, Canada
Tel: +1-514-288-6256