A look at a place and its people and an ode to the craft of making tequila, “Dos Estaciones” is the debut feature film for Juan Pablo González, which made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival where its lead, Teresa Sánchez, won the Special Jury Award Acting prize. The film also won the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Screenwriting at Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival and the True Vision Award at the True/False Film Festival. “Dos Estaciones” tells the story of fifty-year-old businesswoman María García (Sanchez), who owns a once-majestic tequila factory and is now struggling to stay afloat when a plague and flood cause irreversible damage to the people and land.
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While the story itself may be fiction, the story and emotion of the docudrama are known well by many business owners, especially since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even from the trailer, it’s clear that González has extensive knowledge of non-fiction storytelling and deeply respects the location where he shot this film (his hometown). Both make the film feel like you’re watching a thoughtful documentary.
A favorite at numerous film festivals, including New Directors/New Films and New Horizons, “Dos Estaciones” features an impressive cast of professional and non-professional actors. On top of Ariel-nominated actor Teresa Sánchez’s (“The Chambermaid,” “Fauna“) critically acclaimed performance, the actress is accompanied by renowned actor Manuel García-Rulfo (“The Lincoln Lawyer,” “The Magnificent Seven”) and newcomers Rafaela Fuentes and trans actor Tatín Vera. Here’s the official synopsis:
Dos Estaciones follows fifty-year-old businesswoman María García (Sánchez), the owner of Dos Estaciones, a once-majestic tequila factory now struggling to stay afloat. The factory is the final hold-over from generations of Mexican-owned tequila plants in the highlands of Jalisco, the rest having folded to foreign corporations. Once one of the wealthiest people in town, María knows her current financial situation is untenable. When a persistent plague and an unexpected flood cause irreversible damage, she is forced to do everything she can to save her community’s primary economy and source of pride.
“Dos Estaciones” opens on September 9, 2022, at the IFC Center in NYC, on September 16 at the American Cinematheque in L.A., followed by other U.S. cities. Watch the trailer first trailer below, which we’re proud to present exclusively today via The Cinema Guild.