With Unprecedented Access to the Top Luchadores, the Documentary
Is an Intimate Portrait of the Lives Behind the Mask
The feature documentary Lucha Mexico by filmmakers Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz will have its dual theatrical and iTunes release on Friday, July 15, playing in cities across the country including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston, among many others. The ultimate look behind the mask, Lucha Mexico documents the joyous spectacle of Lucha Libre, which has thrilled fans in Mexico for generations.
Shot over the course of four years and with an unprecedented level of access to the top Lucha Libre promotions and performers in the world, including the tragic hardcore wrestler El Hijo del Perro Aguayo during a deadly match, Hammond and Markiewicz offer a no holds barred look at the world of some of the sport’s top performers, also featuring “1000% Guapo” Shocker, Luchador heir Blue Demon Jr., and extreme American bodybuilder Jon “Strongman” Andersen.
The luchadores illuminate the physical and emotional challenges they face in the constant fight to stand between the ropes and thrill every last fan. Lucha Mexico steps into the ring, pulls back the mask, and reveals a powerful look into the beating heart of Mexico.
“The film is one of the (DOC NYC’s) most generous in terms of breadth — there are revelations about the sport, its performers, and its fans every few moments, and the screen bursts with color and wild motion.”
—Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice
“A headlong dive into the world of masked superheroes and villains.” —David Edelstein, New York Magazine
Lucha Libre USA, 2015, 105 min. In Spanish and English with English subtitles). Directed by: Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz; Cinematography by: Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz; Edited by: Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz; Written by: Ian Markiewicz; Produced by: Alex Hammond; Co-Producers: Ian Markiewicz, Sandra Granados and Margarita Altamirano; Music Supervisor: Abe Bradshaw; Original Music: Jonathan Snipes, Sergio Mendoza, Odilon Chavez and Heartour; With Songs By: Rodrigo Y Gabriela, The Sword , The Tubes, Orkesta Mendoza, Los Elasticos, Sanjuana, Conjunto Africa and Miguel Aceves Mejia; Assistant Editors: Max Cavanaugh, Chris McCue and Victoria Linares Villegas; Consulting Editor: Sam Pollard; Additional Camera: Sean Price Williams; Supervising Conform Editor: Eugene Lehnert; Colorist: Alex Berman; Supervising Sound Mixer & Re-recording Mixer: Tom Paul Dialogue; Editor:Michael Feuser; Sound Designer: Andrea Bella; Title Artwork: Adam Markiewicz
Ian Markiewicz the director & editor of the documentary is an independent filmmaker based in NYC. His previous film, the feature documentary Better Than Something: Jay Reatard, was released to theaters and VOD in 2012. Ian has also collaborated with direct cinema pioneer Albert Maysles on various projects, including The Love We Make (with Paul McCartney), Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya Yas Out, and ESPN’s Muhammad and Larry.
Alex Hammond, produced and directed. Hammond has worked in Film and TV in NYC for over ten years. Her feature debut, Strange Things premiered at MoMA’s Documentary Fortnight Film Festival and featured on PBS’s Independent Lens series. In 2012, she produced and co-directed Better Than Something: Jay Reatard, hailed as the “Best Rock-Doc of the Year” by AV Club and IFC.
LUCHA MEXICO Theatrical Engagements and Playdates:
Albuquerque, NM: Guild Cinema – July 15 – 18
Astoria, NY: Museum of the Moving Image – July 15
Aurora, CO: Cinema Latino de Aurora – Opens July 15
Boulder, CO: Boedecker Theater – July 15
Brooklyn, NY: Nitehawk Cinema – Opens July 15
Buena Park, CA: Krikorian Buena Park Metroplex 18 – Opens July 15
Chicago, IL: Gene Siskel Film Center – Opens July 15
Cleveland, OH: Capitol Theater – Opens July 22
Dallas, TX: Texas Theatre – Opens July 15
Detroit, MI: Cinema Detroit – Opens July 15
El Paso, TX: Alamo Drafthouse El Paso – Opens July 15
Fort Worth, TX: La Gran Plaza, Cineamerica – Opens July 15
Houston, TX: Alamo Vintage Park – Opens July 15
Lincoln, NE: Mary Riepma Ross Film Theatre – Opens July 15
Louisville, KY: Speed Art Museum – Opens July 15
Lubbock TX: Alamo Drafthouse Lubbock – Opens July 15
New Orleans, LA: Zeitgeist Arts Center – Opens July 15
New York, NY: IFC Center – July 15 and 16
Paramount, CA: Bianchi Theatres – Opens July 15
Pasadena, CA: Laemmle Playhouse 7 – Opens July 15
Phoenix, AZ: Cinema Latino de Phoenix – Opens July 15
Phoenix, AZ: Film Bar – July 15 and 17
Portland, OR: Hollywood Theatre – July 22
San Diego, CA: Media Arts Center San Diego / Digital Gym – Opens July 15
San Rafael, CA: Rafael Film Center – July 17
Santa Ana, CA: Frida Cinema – Opens July 15
Santa Fe, NM: The Screen – Opens July 15
Seattle, WA: Grand Illusion Cinema – Opens July 15
Van Nuys, CA: Regency Plant 16 – Opens July 15
Comments