Isle of Hope

Words hurt. Words heal. Words matter. Especially when they come from someone we love and admire, like a parent.

It was a Sunday afternoon when my father, who introduced me to the love of film, called me and asked me to watch the play “Dias Contados” by Oscar Martinez. The play was a sort of one-woman show where the lead character, an actress played by Cecilia Roth, talked about her complicated relationship with her mother.

As a third-generation storyteller, I could identify with the character’s struggle, and I immediately understood why it spoke to him too. That never-ending desire to see the pride in your father’s eyes is a longing we both know too well. As a producer, he has always lived in the shadow of my grandfather, Alejandro Romay, an iconic figure in the entertainment industry in our native Argentina.

When he requested that I adapt the play into a feature film in English, the prospect was terrifying. It meant not only having to collaborate with a producer who I knew to be, at times, overbearing and stubborn but also having to deal with the fear of not living up to my own father’s expectations. To add to all that, the story was a personal drama. The type of story that hit its peak of success in the late 70’sand early 80’s but that no one produced anymore. No explosions, no violence, no sex, no politics. It wasn’t edgy or new. I thought, “How will he ever recover the investment it will take to make this?” But also, knowing how strong-willed he is, I knew that if I didn’t do it, he would find someone else who would.

So I decided to face my fears and dig deep into my feelings to write it. I added a third act to the script to find a resolution where the mother and daughter say to each other the things I believe every son, daughter, mother, and father would like to hear.

When our casting director, Judy Henderson, managed to get the brilliant Diane Ladd to read the script, she became a champion of the project and me. Diane and I developed a strong bond, and our creative collaboration was something I have never experienced before.

Later, Mary Stuart Masterson, Andrew McCarthy, and Sam Robards came on board as well, and their ideas and talent made the movie even better than I could have hoped.

With a very tight schedule, budget, and a great group of collaborators, I believe we were able to make a movie that the world needs today. A movie about real human beings dealing with everyday problems and finding a way to heal. A film I believe my grandfather would have been proud of.

I hope that the journey of the characters in “Isle of Hope” can in some way inspire audiences and encourage them to have that difficult conversation with their parents or children that they’ve been holding off for a time that might not come.