The Panamanian film Beloved Tropic (Querido Trópico), the debut fiction feature by director Ana Endara, was awarded the Cine Latino Award at the 68th edition of the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM), where it had its U.S. premiere.
Set in Panama City, Beloved Tropic is a tender and atmospheric drama exploring the evolving relationship between two lonely souls who form an unexpected bond. Ana María (Jenny Navarrete, The Other Son), a Colombian immigrant working as a home caregiver while harboring a secret, crosses paths with Mercedes (played by acclaimed Chilean actress Paulina García, known for Gloria), a high-society woman struggling with encroaching dementia that is slowly erasing her identity and past.
As they navigate the challenges of caregiving and the need for human connection, they learn to care for one another amid their personal struggles. Like the unpredictable Panamanian weather, this luminous drama shimmers with tropical textures and moments of quiet revelation.
“With a potently insightful touch, writer-director Ana Endara reveals the pain of loss, tied to the complexities of motherhood and life transitions. Two distinct perspectives converge for a nuanced and affecting portrait of an unexpected friendship. Endara’s delicate direction of her two lead actresses creates moments of tenderness and mutual appreciation that always feel organically brought to life. Furthermore, the artist’s portrayal of the Panamanian social strata—through two immigrants with unique experiences—broadens our understanding of a country with a particular history and place in Latin America,” wrote the jury in a statement.
The jury—composed of film critic Carlos Aguilar, filmmaker Dawn Valadez, and Chloë Walters-Wallace of Firelight Media—also acknowledged “the extraordinary work of actress Paulina García in both Beloved Tropic and Horizon, whose emotional precision and dramatic range become crucial in both complex narratives.”
The 68th edition of the San Francisco International Film Festival took place April 17–27.
