Luis Mandoki (born in 1954 in Mexico City) is a Mexican film director working in Mexico and Hollywood.
Luis Mandoki studied Fine Arts in Mexico and at the San Francisco Art Institute, the London College of Printing, and the London International Film School. While attending this last institution he directed his first short film Silent Music which won an award at the International Amateur Film Festival of Cannes Film Festival in 1976.
Back in Mexico he directed short films and documentaries for the Instituto Nacional Indigenista (the National Institute for the Indigenous), Conacine (National Commission of Film) and the Centro de Produccion de Cortometraje (Center for the Production of Short Films). In 1980 he received an Ariel Award of the Mexican Academy of Film for his short film El secreto. Four years later, his film Motel was selected to represent Mexico in film festivals around the globe.
At the age of 30 he developed, wrote, produced and directed Gaby: A True… read more
Loving this film is a patriotic sentiment for me. I was mildly disappointed at the lack of original cast members, but just as fascinated with a tale of love, despair, and hope in wounds that are still fresh to many, including myself.
I wanted a movie about El Salvador and instead all I got was a bunch of Mexicans.
As someone who followed the Civil war in El Salvador,knowing this is a true story,made this film even more powerful.From the beginning,it grabs the audience into the daily struggle,and the atrocities endured by this village. There is also one of the most moving Mother and Son connections ever filmed.And,towards the end,one of the most heart wrenching scenes.