“Bumbumpapá” by Alexis Gómez
In a world where senseless war and conflict irreversibly alter the lives of countless families, “Bumbumpapá” asks a poignant question: when there seems to be only darkness, can you find a spark of light? Director Alexis Gomez shares the tale of a father desperate to shield the joyful innocence of his young daughter in harrowing moments that may be their last.
FROM THE DIRECTOR:
“Reproducing the clip in our head, I could not help but wonder - a bomb could have exploded above their heads as he recorded, killing them instantly. Veiled underneath Al-Mohammed's expression, there should be a glimpse of sorrow, a trace of doubt and fear. We couldn't find any. "Maybe it hit a tent or a child. This is very sad. But I'm laughing so that my daughter doesn't get affected by this. And if the shell were to fall on us. better that we die laughing than to die scared." His lie shields the most undeniable of truths: the killing of children is the most hateful war crimes and also one of the inevitabilities of warfare. This wasn't just a desperate attempt to protect his innocent daughter from the meaningless horrors of war; Al-Mohammed aimed to protect the purity of childhood until the very end, in case these were Salwa's final moments.
From the very beginning, we felt a strong connection to the story. We have never lived in the midst of shelling and bombings, but we know how it feels the urge to protect someone you love, the struggle to explain the unexplainable and the fear of the unknown. The project was developed during a challenging time when a loved one was diagnosed with cancer during the pre-production process. It was a tough and emotional experience, but it also magically gave the project a deeper level of meaning and purpose: in the end, it was all about creating a world of peace, fantasy, and safety for someone you love.
And if fear is the opposite of love, then we are talking about both here. This story celebrates this final outpost of humanity: the generosity of imagination. Through one of the most painful and unnatural situations imaginable - that of a parent witnessing their daughter's potential last moment - perspective and compassion bring us a universal story we believe is worth telling.
Right as we began to develop the project, the war in Ukraine broke out. That was the precise moment we realized that this story needed to be told and felt that it had the potential to help the world in some way. We aim for this story to reach people in an intimate, transformative way and that it guides and inspires viewers to find hope in their lives. We have created this piece with a lot of heart and vulnerability, the starting place for those who are looking for light in the dark places they find themselves.”
-Alexis Gómez
CREDITS:
Starring// Alfonso Dosal & Irina Van Duuren Camacho
Director// Alexis Gómez
Written by// Vincenzo Angileri
Executive Producers// Trust, Landia Content, & Thomas Amoedo
Producers// David Kohan, Claudio Amoedo, & Vincenzo Angileri
Associate Producer// Ximena Prieto
Director of Photography// Leo Calzoni
Production Designer// Fernanda Contreras
Art Director// Silvia Contreras
Casting Director// Daniela Mandoki
Editor// Conrado Lopez
Music & Sound Design// BDS MUSIC
Color Grading// Marti Somoza
VFX// Globetrotter Studio
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