Indianapolis International Film Festival 2009

Based on a true story, 'SALUD' follows Carlos, a 30-year-old Latino man struggling with the consequences of his past.When SALUD opens, Carlos loses his wife due to his infidelities. Hung up on his his divorce with his ex-wife Mimi, it becomes too much to bear. Now Carlos' existence consists of pathetic attempts to win Mimi back and restore the life he once had with her and his beloved 8-year-old boy, Junito, a highly intelligent kid with whom" despite the divorceâ€ù shares a very special bond with Carlos. However, Mimi has apparently moved on with her life as indicated by her relationship with her new boyfriend, Geo, who has moved into the apartment Mimi shares with Junito. Giving up on Mimi, Carlos begins to slip again, gradually returning to alcohol as remedy for his pain despite its destructive effect on the one good thing in his life: His relationship with Junito. Just when it seems that Carlos will succumb to his addiction he meets 'Jocelyn,' a beautiful, intelligent girl from the neighborhood. A love blossoms and finally it seems that everything is beginning to fall into place again for Carlos until he begins to realize that Jocelyn may not be all that she seems. Once again Carlos returns to his hopeless dream of reviving the lost life he had with Mimi, renewing his desperate attempts to get her back. When depression and disillusionment overtake him, Carlos slowly descends into a downward spiral of booze addiction. Junito's refusal to lose his father becomes a powerful struggle which leads both father and son to discover the true and sometimes painful meaning of unconditional love.In an age of big budget special effects and action adventure plots, SALUD is a simple story about people, about their mistakes and their triumphs. Through one boy's hope, and one man's struggle, SALUD takes you into the heart of alcoholism, guilt, redemption, and love.