Lolita

Javier did some messed up things but he ready to revolve them. He knew in order to love Lolita he must love himself. The directions were amazing and the actors and actresses were phenomenal. The storyline was great. I didn't know it was California. I thought it was in New York, perfect. If you must you have to see this film!!!

A strong story of lost time and new opportunity that moves along at a good pace, heightened by family melodrama and excellent supporting performances. This film also highlights some of the difficulties faced by the queer community when it comes to redemption and reinvention within the system, at times difficult to watch but undoubtedly too real. Regina del Carmen's song also fits so perfectly and she whipped that up in like a day.

Overall one of the most memorable submissions at this year's San Antonio Film Festival and the stronger of the two queer Latino features we selected this year. Jorge and the cast are a fun bunch of talent and excellence. His future films are only going to keep getting better.

Jorge Xolalpa's Lolita follows Jesus, on parole after serving time in prison, who just wants to see his daughter - who is in the care of his estranged step-brother and sister-in-law. Tensions are high in this family, as Jesus needs to rebuild their trust in order to see his daughter again. Difficulties while trying to find work leads to humiliation, temptation, and unhelpful mandatory therapy sessions where no one seems willing to let him seriously pursue his chance at redemption, giving us a heart-wrenching look at the American justice system and society at large, as it looks down on former convicts and the LGBT+ community.

Alexis Vazquez is tasked with carrying the immense weight of his character, a gay former drug addict/sex-worker with underlying childhood trauma which prevents him from trusting anyone, and succeeds at this. The scene where he opens his heart to his therapist rocked me to the bone. Just a powerful performance, perfectly complemented by a strong supporting cast.

Jorge Xolalpa's steady directorial hand and hard-hitting screenplay, in coordination with Luis Adrian Lara's skillful camera work drive this film home, making it feel real, lived-in, and relatable. Xolalpa's growth as a filmmaker since really shines through, a tremendous raw filmmaking talent who consistently delivers unique and interesting stories that we need more of right now.

Lolita is currently playing the festival circuit, so if you have the chance to see it, I highly recommend checking it out. Support independent film, you'll never know what gems you'll find. This is definitely one of them.

Raw and emotional. The audience was truly captivated. Excellent character development and phenomenal storytelling. Jorge shows us the true meaning of love amongst family, friends, lovers, and strangers alike. An accurate portrayal of the struggle to break free from the system. Highly recommended to anyone that feels stuck and alone.

This film was truly captivating. It delivered a raw and unfiltered look at how the system fails ordinary people, exposing the corruption that happens behind the scenes while all people want is the chance to live well. The story powerfully shows that when individuals are given the right resources, they can thrive, but when obstacles are deliberately placed in their way, it only pushes them further down. Without giving away the ending, I'll just say it left me eager for more-I could easily imagine this expanding into a full series. Overall, a fantastic watch!