William, el nuevo maestro del judo

  • 96'
  • Mexico
  • 2016

Back in the 1950s, Swedish-American singer William Clauson had a worldwide hit with La Bamba. Now he lives in a ramshackle garage in Tijuana, Mexico. In William, the New Judo Master, directors Ricardo Silva and Omar Guzmán show how a Mexican nurse washes his naked old body. "How did we get here?", a voice-over muses. "What road led us here? When did we take it?" This fascinating film essay is about the struggle against time, old age and transitoriness.
Silva’s debut film Navajazo (2014) was already a hybrid form of documentary and fiction, but here (with Guzmán) he goes further, producing a surrealist collage. For example, going on a trip to the oldest tree in the world. Or having a middle-aged actor play Clauson, while he is visited by three male prostitutes. Meanwhile, the devil looks on, eyes glowing red.

Directors
Ricardo Silva, Omar Guzmán
Premiere
International premiere
Country of production
Mexico
Year
2016
Festival Edition
IFFR 2017
Length
96'
Medium
DCP
International title
William, the New Judo Master
Languages
Spanish, English, Swedish
Producers
Paulina Valencia, Geminiano Pineda Moreno / Cine Canibal
Production Companies
Specola , Cine Canibal
Sales
The Open Reel
Screenplay
Ricardo Silva, Omar Guzmán
Cinematography
Adrian Durazo
Editor
Omar Guzmán
Production Design
Daniela Maung
Sound Design
Omar Guzmán
Music
William Clauson, Tony Roland
Cast
William Clauson, Edward Coward, Arak Bernal , Hoze Meléndez, Pako Houston
Directors
Ricardo Silva, Omar Guzmán
Premiere
International premiere
Country of production
Mexico
Year
2016
Festival Edition
IFFR 2017
Length
96'
Medium
DCP
International title
William, the New Judo Master
Languages
Spanish, English, Swedish
Producers
Paulina Valencia, Geminiano Pineda Moreno / Cine Canibal
Production Companies
Specola , Cine Canibal
Sales
The Open Reel
Screenplay
Ricardo Silva, Omar Guzmán
Cinematography
Adrian Durazo
Editor
Omar Guzmán
Production Design
Daniela Maung
Sound Design
Omar Guzmán
Music
William Clauson, Tony Roland
Cast
William Clauson, Edward Coward, Arak Bernal , Hoze Meléndez, Pako Houston