Roots and Wings: A Different Cinematic Angle on Missionary Work
by Thomas C. Baggaley
As a missionary in Venezuela, I often wondered what it was like for the people I was teaching. I am grateful to have been born and raised in the church, but I still tried to imagine what it was like for those who were hearing the restored gospel for the first time. I also wondered what it was like for those who were not yet ready to receive the message, especially those who had family members who were baptized although they, themselves, did not yet gain a testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. After watching Roots and Wings, a short film from talented Austrian filmmaker, Christian Vuissa, I felt like I understood a little bit better.
Roots and Wings was recently awarded the AML (Association for Mormon Letters) Award in film – an award that has only been given once before: to Richard Dutcher’s God’s Army. In some respects, I think Roots and Wings is even better than God’s Army. The film stars Grman Contreras as Ruben, a Mexican Catholic immigrant who finds his wife and children becoming distant as they assimilate American ways and the Latter-day Saint faith which they have joined. Ruben feels threatened as, from his point of view, his family seems to abandon the traditions and culture that are so important to him. What follows is a deeply moving and thought-provoking story that doesn’t give any easy answers or platitudes as Ruben struggles to adapt to the changes in his family.
The film is beautifully shot, each scene carefully and meaningfully framed. The story, written by Vuissa and screenwriter Agustina Perez, is well crafted and Contreras’s performance is one of the best I have seen in an LDS-themed film. Maria Carr is also excellent as Antonia, Ruben’s wife. The film is so natural and real, the emotions so raw, that it is stunning to realize that Vuissa shot this film as a student at BYU.
Vuissa has a bright future ahead of him as a filmmaker. He is the founder and organizer of the LDS Film Festival, which has been growing steadily since its inception two years ago. He has also recently completed his final student film, Unfolding, which is competing in BYU’s Final Cut film festival this week. After that, he has several possible projects awaiting his attention, and it is only a matter of time before he tries his hand at a feature film. That will be a treat to look forward to.
In addition to the AML Award for film, Roots & Wings has won a number of other awards and recognitions. In the 2002 Final Cut film festival at BYU, it won the awards for Best Actor (Contreras), Best Screenplay, and Audience Choice Award (Best Film). It also received a Gold Aurora Award (2002) for Best Foreign Language Film, was the winner of the Performing Art Showcase Award of the Golden Key International Honor Society, and won Best Director and Best Screenplay awards at the prestigious Eclipse Film Festival.
Roots and Wings is only about 28 minutes in length and yet it doesn’t seem rushed. Since it is a short film, it has not been released in theaters and has not received wide distribution yet, although it is available on video. All of the retailers that I am aware of that carry the film at this time have completely sold out with a waiting list of back orders, so you might have some difficulty finding a copy, but this excellent film is well worth the effort, even if you have to wait a while. When asked about distribution, Vuissa indicated that the situation is being resolved. Those retailers with back orders should hopefully be able fill them within the next couple of weeks, and the film should be available on a much wider basis in video and DVD by the end of April. Keep your eyes open for it.
2002Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
