Soldiers like Santiago, 23 years-old, are distinct in a culture where recruitment into the army comes at such a young age. After being discharged he returns to Lima, scarred like an old man by the violence he has seen and suffered. All his compadres likewise have the same problem: as young people, they are already veterans, and for many of them there civilian life has made little room for their return. Santiago's wife has long since taken another man, all of his friends have now turned to crime, and even for Santiago there seems to be no way to return to normal life. His parents insist on him living with his wife, but it is clear she has little room for him in her life. He tries, nevertheless, working as a taxi driver. Unsparingly realistic, director Josué Mèndez in his debut feature portrays the everyday life of his elusive, shy, and increasingly paranoid lost hero. A film that is both beautiful and haunting, this sad tale of reintergration is particularly poignant in a culture where our own young soldiers will soon return from the war front. Josué Méndez, born in Lima, Peru, graduated in film studies and Latin American studies from Yale University. He has written and directed three short films, shown at international film festivals. Parelisa won the Casa de America Award for Best New Director at the Huesca Ibero-American Film Festival in Spain. He has worked on various documentary, theatrical, advertising and television projects for Peruvian and overseas directors. Days of Santiago is his first feature film. -AHS

	Sponsored by: