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Bolero About Leaving - Short Film

Esther, a peasant grandmother with senile dementia, is visited by her daughter and granddaughter, who see that she cannot take care of herself, so they decide to bring her to the city. Esther does not adapt well to the new space. After an argument with her granddaughter, Esther leaves the house and gets lost. After a search through the neighbourhood, she is found disoriented in a park. The family takes Esther to a nursing home. Esther sits in a corner waiting for them to come back for her so she can go home.

  • Juan Pablo Rendón
    Director
  • Juan Pablo Rendón
    Writer
  • Manuela Jimenez
    Producer
  • Ronny Daniel Vergara
    Producer
  • Gilma Pabón
    Key Cast
    "Esther"
  • Alejandra Herrera
    Key Cast
    "Valentina"
  • Beatriz Ferrer
    Key Cast
    "Marta"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Bolero de Partida - Cortometraje
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 31 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 23, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    550 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Colombia
  • Country of Filming:
    Colombia
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Instituto Tecnologico Metropolitano
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • 5th International Teen Short Film Festival
    Beijing
    China
    December 15, 2022
    Asian Premiere
    Winner for Best Screenplay, Official Selection
  • Festival de Cine de Norte de Santander
    Cucutá, Norte de Santander
    Colombia
    August 22, 2024
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Juan Pablo Rendón

Juan Pablo Rendón is a young film director, from Medellín City, his passion for the arts has been present with him since his childhood, he dreams of being able to make films and experiment among things that Colombia still lacks cinematographically, he has participated in the making of six short films made with his audiovisual collective and together with the ITM Film School. These have been highlighted by their teachers and spectators, his previous project, Who Said No, a Short Film Documentary about a blind woman and her story of overcoming, was selected in various festivals in the United States, Asia and Europe.

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Director Statement

Hello, my name is Juan Pablo Rendón, and I am the director of Bolero de Partida (Bolero About Leaving, in English), this story is about Esther, she is a grandmother who lives in a countryside, suffers from senile dementia, a day after a visit by one of her daughters and her granddaughter, the decision is made to take her to live in their home, but this begins to generate multiple problems at home with all those who live there, after many conflictive events, they decide to take her to a home for the elderly, where Esther waits patiently for his return. When we carried out this project, we were very enthusiastic, because we consider that it is a story like so many that happen to our older adults in many parts of the world, who after trying to offer the best life and upbringing for their children end up abandoned in nursing homes or living separated from their family. I think a moving story is what many people
need to rethink about how they treat their parents at the end of their life. Having Bolero de Partida at its festival not only opens the doors to this emerging cinema of the new Colombian filmmakers, but also sets out to change paradigms about old age and the value we give to our elders.