The first narrative feature from Academy Award–nominated documentarian Heidi Ewing (Jesus Camp), I Carry You With Me follows a tender romance spanning decades. Based on the true story of Ewing’s close friends, the film gracefully traces both men’s lives from their childhoods in provincial Mexico through the decisions that lead them into adulthood.
Iván, an aspiring chef and young father, hopes to secure a spot in a restaurant’s kitchen while supporting his child. But when his relationship with Gerardo is discovered and conflict ensues, a despairing Iván makes the arduous choice to cross the border into the United States, promising both his son and his soulmate that he will return.
Actors Armando Espitia and Christian Vázquez bring pathos and passion to the characters of Iván and Gerardo, whose story is punctuated by unscripted footage of the real men as they are today. Boldly original, I Carry You With Me is an impressionistic, open-hearted take on the American dream and a soulful rumination on family, sacrifice, regret, and — ultimately — hope.
