Movies

How ‘Uvalde Mom’ director Anayansi Prado captured the heart of a town in trauma

BBG News

Three years past, a gun-wielding youth invaded Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, resulting in the tragic loss of 19 students and 2 teachers due to gunfire. Reports indicate that over 300 law enforcement personnel gathered on the school grounds for longer than an hour without attempting to confront the shooter.

Amidst the lack of immediate response, Angeli Rose Gomez implored officers either to intervene or allow her entry to retrieve her two children and nephew. She was detained and cuffed, but managed to persuade them not to arrest her. Subsequently, she dashed into the school to get her kids.

Social media videos showed the instances where Gomez, a Texas farmworker and mom of two, took her sons and nephew from school. Swiftly hailed as a hero in both national and regional press, she gained recognition for her bravery.

Videos on social media showcased the occasions when Gomez, a mother of two who works in Texas agriculture, took her sons and nephew out of school. She was soon acclaimed as a hero by national and local publications due to her courage.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I recently discovered and was deeply moved by the powerful documentary “Uvalde Mom.” This film follows me, Gomez, in the wake of my national recognition. It delves into the complex web of forces within the Uvalde community that tragically permitted the shooting to occur. Moreover, it provides a poignant portrayal of the heart-wrenching aftermath our town has endured following such an unimaginable tragedy.

In a crucial scene from the movie, Gomez expresses, “On that particular day, all I hoped for was my children to safely leave school, and fortunately, that’s what transpired.” She continues, “I don’t wish to be referred to as a hero. I don’t desire to be perceived as one because the role I fulfilled that day was simply being a mother.

Voices

Abcarian: The pathetic lessons of the Uvalde school shooting in Texas

An extensive Justice Department report, which underscores the shortcomings of the initial responders in Uvalde, serves as a valuable guide for efficient strategies in dealing with mass violence incidents.

Anayansi Prado, the director of the feature, was deeply saddened and shocked by the incident and found inspiration to create a movie about it when she saw the affected families on television.

In a conversation with The Times, Prado shared that he noticed the presence of Latinos who were Mexican-Americans, living in a border town with an agricultural background. This setting, reminiscent of communities he has collaborated with through his film projects, struck a chord with him.

After the shooting in Uvalde, Prado started contacting locals, but it took more than two months for anyone to respond because they were all overwhelmed with media queries. The exception was Gomez who responded to her.

Prior to the showing of the film this coming Saturday at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, Prado discussed with The Times the steps taken and difficulties encountered during the production of her documentary.

This interview has been edited and shortened for clarity.

Was the original plan for this project to develop into a full-length movie, or was there consideration given to turning it into a short film or a series at some point?

I’ve often considered Uvalde as a character to explore in depth, with the intention of gaining a comprehensive understanding. This encompassed delving into the history of the criminal justice system and education within Uvalde. I envisioned creating something more substantial than a brief piece focused solely on Angeli or similar topics. A few individuals suggested that this could be an effective short film, but as I discovered more about Uvalde, I realized that Uvalde itself has its own rich history, much like a person.

World & Nation

Additionally, the families reached an agreement worth $2 million with the city, stipulating that local authorities would prioritize enhancing standards and providing more comprehensive law enforcement training.

When it came to choosing Angeli, was she the first and only person who responded to your outreach?

It appears that the people in town were overwhelmed by the media attention, and it was Angeli who contacted me afterward. What caught my attention during my initial visit [to Uvalde] was learning about her background and discovering how the justice system had let her down. I noticed a striking similarity between this situation and the failure of the system on the day of the shooting, as well as its ongoing failure to support her individually. I wanted to explore these two narratives – the broader one affecting the community and the personal one centered around Angeli. Once I understood more about her, beyond just the mother who entered the school, I felt compelled to share her story.

As a movie reviewer, I pondered how the filmmaker skillfully interwove the protagonist’s personal struggles with the grand-scale setbacks. In other words, I wondered how they managed to maintain a delicate balance between her intimate life and the broader, more universal challenges she faced.

As a cinephile, I found myself drawing heavily from my own filmmaking journey when crafting this movie’s narrative. It mirrored an uncanny surreality, as if two distinct storylines coexisted: one following Angeli’s personal ordeal, and another portraying the broader landscape of negligence, accountability gaps, and concealed truths. This duality significantly influenced my decision-making process when shaping the film’s structure.

Regarding our personal interaction, it was about winning over Angeli’s confidence. Initially hesitant about being part of the film, she expressed reservations, and I reassured her, “There’s no obligation here. I’m a stranger, but all I ask is that you give me an opportunity to win your trust.” She agreed, and from there, she began to share more with me, and we grew closer as she trusted me more. I was mindful of her past legal issues and the way some might perceive her. Moreover, I didn’t want Angeli to be portrayed as a victim but rather stir anger towards the system for letting her down.

As a devoted cinephile, I’ve often pondered over the hurdles I’ve encountered when attempting to connect with certain city officials. It’s like trying to get that elusive close-up shot in a movie – it takes patience, persistence, and a keen eye for opportunity.

For our story segment, we relied heavily on news archives to convey the necessary information since the authorities declined to grant interviews, instead choosing to hold press conferences only. Access was restricted and our production was discreet most of the time, as Angeli was under probation, which made speaking to the media potentially risky. To maintain confidentiality, we kept our filming activities a secret, revealing it mainly to her family. Besides Angeli’s friend Tina and family members, few others in town were aware that we were producing the film. It was deemed too dangerous to inform other townsfolk about the project due to the sensitive nature of what was unfolding.

World & Nation

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a strongly worded critique of the law enforcement’s handling of the school shooting tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, which resulted in 21 fatalities.

Initially, my aim was to create a deeply personal account of “Uvalde Mome”. I chose to be quite discerning when it came to selecting interviewees, focusing only on those essential to our narrative. I’m content with Tina, a local activist, Arnie, a school teacher who survived the shooting, and Angeli’s legal team. I believed these individuals would help us weave a more comprehensive tale. However, due to certain constraints, it wasn’t possible for us to openly produce a film about her and reveal her identity.

What kind of reception have you gotten from people of Uvalde that have seen the film?

Our debut took place at South by Southwest, an experience that was truly rewarding. Many individuals attended from Uvalde and shared their sentiments about how, nearly three years on, many of these issues persist. Each time Governor Greg Abbott appeared on-screen, the audience would erupt with cries of “Loser!”. It was incredibly touching to witness those screenings.

Given Angeli’s divisive nature among her critics, it was inevitable that there would be pushback. The reaction mirrors the portrayal in a movie where she is depicted as a villain, with the line “Don’t trust her, she’s a criminal.” Uvalde is a community still healing from its wounds, and I strive to show empathy towards its residents. Angeli’s tale is just one of many that deserve to be shared in Uvalde, and I hope more filmmakers, journalists, and storytellers will continue to highlight the area – particularly given the ongoing lack of resolution and justice. It’s comforting to see the film reviving interest in Uvalde; this way, we can keep its struggles at the forefront of our minds.

Had you ever spent an extended amount of time in Texas before?

Previously, I visited Texas, but I didn’t carry out any work there. Given my status as an outsider, it was crucial for me to assemble a completely local Texas film crew for this project. My team, from our production assistants to our sound technicians to our directors of photography, were all based in Texas. Additionally, I desired a predominantly Texas-born Mexican American crew to lead me. We started filming in September 2022, and the environment was quite tense.

Could you describe your experience navigating the tensions within the Latino community and the local law enforcement in Uvalde, especially given the context of the story you were telling? How did you handle these feelings when visiting the town?

Upon arriving in Uvalde, I noticed that a significant portion of the population was of Mexican-American descent, having resided there for multiple generations. One might assume, given such deep-rooted Mexican American history and the majority being Latino, that they would be well-established and adequately represented within the community. However, it was quite enlightening to observe how these residents are often treated as inferior, facing oppression in various ways. Many of them struggle for equal footing, while those who manage to gain power tend to align themselves with the white conservative agenda, neglecting their own community and turning away from it instead.

It’s been reported that the persistent lack of attention may have contributed to the unfortunate incident at Robb Elementary, with people saying, “That’s just how it is in that neighborhood. You call the police, they don’t show up. Our schools are in poor condition.” The contrast is evident. This community, predominantly Mexican American and long-established, experienced a clear disparity. It’s intriguing to observe how, despite being a minority, the conservative white community maintains influence over the area.

Read More

2025-05-30 02:01

Previous post Elden Ring Nightreign: How to Unlock the Duchess
Next post ADRIAN THRILLS reviews Pulp: More (Rough Trade): Britpop for grown-ups…it’s a perfect Pulp album for 2025