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The Lovers

"The Lovers" is a story set in 1910, and it follows Adrian (21) and Dalila (19), two young lovers who swear to each other that their love will last forever, and visit The Crone, an ancient witch and powerful seer, seeking her blessing for their union. But the future the witch's cards reveal is not what they hope for, as they expose the tragic details of their fate.

  • Andrés Torres H.
    Director
  • Andrés Torres H.
    Writer
  • José Añazco
    Producer
  • Andrés Torres H.
    Producer
  • Álvaro Iturralde
    Key Cast
    "Adrian"
  • Daniela "Ela" Riofrío
    Key Cast
    "Dalila"
  • Paula Cano
    Key Cast
    "The Crone"
  • Andrés Antonio Torres Hernández
    Key Cast
    "The Beast "
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    La Leyenda de los Amantes
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Fantasy, Romance
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 10, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Ecuador
  • Country of Filming:
    Ecuador
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Andrés Torres H.

Andrés Torres H. was born in Quito, Ecuador, and from a very young age became interested in history and storytelling.

As a kid, before even being able to read or write, he used to scribble and doodle on post-it notes and pretend they were fantastical stories. In school, he started making his own comic books, and once he entered college to study filmmaking, he began writing screenplays and novels, as well as directing short films and music videos, most of them with a dark fantasy undertone to them.

Since graduating college he has written one horror novel and several short screenplays, and is currently working on his second novel, "The Ransom of the Sun," a historical fiction epic tale recounting the last days of the Inca Emperor, Atawallpa, as well as rewriting the pilot for his horror/dark fantasy/history-inspired TV show, "The Eyes of Midnight," based on the early years of Spanish colonization of the territory that would become modern-day Ecuador. The short story the script is based on, written by him, placed as Quarter Finalist in ScreenCraft's Cinematic Short Story competition.

His proof-of-concept short film "The Lovers" (written, produced, and directed by him) won Best Short at the Festival de Cine Independiente de San Antonio.

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Director Statement

This story was born from my seeking to understand how a force that cannot be seen can leave such a powerful mark on the human spirit. When you love someone, they fill your heart and your thoughts. You carry them with you everywhere you go. But when they leave, that space that had become theirs is now hollow, and pain and longing rush to fill the hole they left behind. I want to explore love and loss as two sides of the same coin - and how through love - those close to us never truly leave us.

I am mestizo. My heritage comes from both worlds, as with most people in this country, I have indigenous and European blood running through my veins. My nation has a rich history going back to thousands of years before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. The remnants of ancient civilizations, their myths, their temples, their customs, languages, and practices, though largely lost to time and cultural destruction, still have an impact on my society and myself, and for me, writing about the history of my country, whether as historical fiction or as fantasy inspired by real events, is something that I feel defines my work.

The city I live in is steeped in myth and legend. The colonial gothic architecture and the truly unique baroque style of Quito's historic Old Town, mixed with the ancient native legends, folklore, and stories, created truly amazing stories that have been passed down through centuries and countless generations. This story, The Lovers, is my attempt to craft a legend for my city, inspired by the stories I grew up hearing and made me fall in love with storytelling.

The Lovers explores love as the invisible bond that unites the souls of Adrian and Dalila, the force that keeps them together. But fate decrees that their spirits will become separated and the light of their love will be extinguished, doomed to be lost forever in the cold, dark night. But, can man change his fate? Can love trascend the will of the gods?

My objective is to tell a horror story, but to do it through the lens of some of the most fundamental human experiences: love, loss, and the mark these leave on our souls. Who hasn't fought to hold on to a lost cause, even when fate itself intervenes to keep you separated?

We hold on to love, because through love, we are made whole again. And I want to explore what happens when the person you love, the person that gives your life meaning, disappears without a trace, and you are left to redefine your life without them in it.