US stars feted at Guadalajara movie carnival

U.S. actors Danny Glover and Maya Rudolph heaped praise on Mexican director/actor Diego Luna at the Guadalajara International Film Festival this week.

The two stars appear in Luna’s latest film, “Mr. Pig,” about an irascible farmer and his long-suffering daughter who make a fateful road trip – with a porker in tow – from Southern California to Jalisco.   The film debuted at the Sundance Festival in January, and had its first showing in Mexico at the Teatro Diana last weekend.  It goes on general release in July.Rudolph called Luna “an incredible director,” while Glover thanked him for the opportunity to be in such a “moving” film.

Shot in Jalisco, with funding from the state government, the film ably highlights Jalisco’s picturesque landscapes, thanks to Damian Garcia’s impressive photography. 

Luna, who was brought up in Guadalajara, said the film is a homage to Jalisco and his father, who appears briefly in a few scenes playing the part of a doctor.

Appearing at several festival events, Glover did not waste the opportunity to voice his criticism of the derogatory remarks about Mexico made by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump. “It’s crazy what he says. I graduated from a high school that had a mural by Diego Rivera. There are many examples of important Mexicans, such as Cesar Chavez.” (Luna’s previous feature was a biopic about the labor leader and civil rights activist, released in 2014.)

U.S. actor, singer and author Tab Hunter (above), one of the hottest teen idols of the 1950s era who appeared in more than 40 movies, received the Mayahuel award the opening ceremony of the Guadalajara International Film Festival at the Auditorio Telmex.  The 2015 documentary, “Tab Hunter Confidential,” based on his 2006 best-selling autobiography, has been screened during the festival.