Televisa Cine’s ‘A Day Without A Mexican’ Opens.

Televisa Cine’s critically acclaimed feature debut and overwhelming audience favorite “A Day Without a Mexican” continues its successful run, adds 45 new U.S. play across Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Denver and Phoenix. Moviegoers are encouraged to check out local movie listings for specific theaters and play times near them.

“We are very pleased with the overwhelming support critics and audiences, both in the United States and Mexico, have given “A Day without a Mexican,’” said Mike Doban, General Sales Manager of Televisa Cine USA. “It underscores that there is a broad Latino and crossover audience who wants to see this film and embraces great storytelling.”

Supported in large part by a provocative outdoor campaign asking “Where is José” and warning that on opening day, “the Gringos are going to cry,” the $1.5 million “A Day without a Mexican” has already amassed more than $3,248,000 in total box office revenue since its May 14th U.S. bow. During its opening weekend, the satirical, documentary-style depiction of what it would be like if Latinos inexplicably and spontaneously disappeared without a trace from California, “A Day Without a Mexican” yielded a respectable $628,811, averaging a strong $11,229 per theatre, second only to Warner Bros’ “Troy,” marking an impressive coming out for first-time director Sergio Arau.

During its Mexico debut two weeks ago, “A Day Without a Mexican” opened at number one with a weekend box office total of $1,625,478 (USD). Besting “King Arthur” and “I, Robot,” in that order, “A Day without a Mexican” achieved the second highest opening weekend ever for a Mexican film in Mexico, second only to 2002’s “El Crimen del Padre Amaro.”

“It’s been a humbling experience to see our little film take off with such momentum,” said Director Sergio Arau and actor/screenwriter Yareli Arizmendi. “The success of ‘A Day without a Mexican’ is a testament to the demand for quality films for and by Latinos.”

Set in modern-day California and based on Sergio Arau and Yareli Arizmendi’s short of the same title, the much anticipated “A Day Without a Mexican,” starring Yareli Arizmendi (Like Water for Chocolate, 1992) as Lila Rodríguez, the sole remaining Latino in California after 14 million Latinos mysteriously disappear, delves into the economic, political and social implications of this disaster on the Golden State’s way of life. Experts pose questions and offer theories: Could this be a UFO kidnapping? Biological terrorism? The Apocalypse and Latinos are the chosen ones? Or perhaps they just left because they were tired of being taken for granted.

As time goes by, the State continues to deteriorate: Garbage has taken over the streets and tears are permanently painted on the faces of most citizens as the 5th largest economy in the world tumbles. The realization that what has disappeared is the very thing that keeps the “California Dream” running – cooks, gardeners, policemen, nannies, doctors, farm and construction workers, entertainers, athletes, teachers as well as the largest growing market of consumers – has turned Latinos and their return into the number one priority in the State. But as despair turns into quiet sorrow, deeply felt memories and heartfelt appreciation yield unexpected results.

Added Arau and Arizmendi: “We thank moviegoers and critics for their enthusiastic support and letting their curiosity and heart take them to our film. We are grateful to the producers and distributors for believing in us. And yes, we still believe we can change the world one screen at a time!”

Distributed by Mexico’s Televisa Cine, the film won three awards (“Audience Award,” “Best First Film” and “Best Editing”) at the IXX Guadalajara Latin-American Film Festival, as well as the “Audience Award” from the El Público Newspaper in Guadalajara. “A Day without a Mexican” is a co-production of Videocine, Altavista Films, Cinepolis and Spain’s Plural Entertainment.