Un Día Normal, directed by local filmmaker Maurizio Dominguez, is a compelling 30-minute drama that follows a young woman in Southwest Detroit who is detained by immigration enforcement and the repercussions this encounter causes for her and her family. The film is based on a real-life encounter with immigration enforcement that Dominguez’s family experienced in early 2017. It explores the challenges faced by families with mixed immigration status, and the impact of immigration raids on families and communities.
Dominguez, who got his start in performing arts working with Matrix Theatre in Mexicantown, makes his debut as director, writer, and producer with Un Día Normal. He is joined by a skilled crew of Wayne State film graduates, and a talented cast of actors from the Metro Detroit area and neighboring city of Toledo. The film won the Best Short award at the International New York Film Festival, and received an Independent Spirit Award from the Detroit Trinity International Film Festival. It is currently participating in film festivals nationwide, and is gaining attention for its hard-hitting theme and powerful performances by leading actors Andi Jo Taylor, Ulises Otero, and Angeles Vara.
A free screening of Un Día Normal will be held at Vámonos on August 17th. It is open to the public, with drinks and concessions available for purchase. A reception will begin at 6:45 pm, followed
by the film screening at 8:00 pm. Vámonos is located at 4444 W Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209. More information is available on Facebook for the screening and a trailer by scanning the QR code below.
In the fall of 2017, immigrant Esmeralda Monzón and her family face financial struggles amidst the possible cancellation of the DACA program. The family’s situation worsens when Immigration & Customs Enforcement officers detain Esmeralda, believing her to be in the country illegally. With neither of her family members able to come to her aid, Esmeralda has to manage through her panic to prove her valid DACA status to the officers—but without revealing that her mother is undocumented.
