• Toronto Int'l Film Festival

  • Göteborg Int'l Film Festival

  • San Francisco Int'l Film Festival

  • Vancouver Latino Film Festival

  • Guadalajara Int'l Film Festival

Pricing
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Spanish with English subtitles

With Roberto Quijano, Diana Bovio, Daniela Salinas

After his time in the popular boy band Equinoccio, Billy Lozano is now living a tedious life as a married man, in his late thirties, in the suburbs. Frustrated with his lifestyle, he lives with all the necessary pseudo-comforts in the house of his dreams but feels like the biggest loser in the world since his last entrepreneurship failed once again. He has no other occupation but to take care of his son and his wife’s dog.

Her new neighbor Monica is shocked to recognize her teen boy-band crush living across the street. When she encourages him to resume his artistic career, it appears that their lives will never be the same. Or will they?

Press

“It’s a welcome, biting satire that is self-aware enough to acknowledge its main character’s faults by not giving him what he initially wants, but by leaving us all guessing in the end.” – Alejandra Martinez, Austin Chronicles

“A charming and genuine comedy about a those who live trapped in yesterday's triumphs, attempting to recreate a sense of freedom and joy that is long gone.” – Rene Sanchez, Cine Sin Fronteras

Love and Mathematics is a clever, funny, and thoughtful examination of the lengths one man (and maybe all of us) would go to for a scrap of relevancy or validation. Powered by lovely performances and smart writing.” – Alejandra Martinez, Austin Chronicles

About the Director
Claudia Sainte-Luce is a Mexican writer, director, and actress. Born in Veracruz in 1982, she graduated in visual arts from the University of Guadalajara, made some short films, and worked as an assistant director for various Mexican films before writing her scripts.

Her debut feature The Amazing Catfish premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, where it received the Best Film Award by the Young Jury. The film played at numerous international film festivals and won many prizes, including Best Latin American Film at Mar del Plata, and Best Mexican Film at Los Cabos. The Amazing Catfish was nominated for seven Ariel Awards including Best Picture, it was released in North America by Strand Releasing.

In 2022, Sainte-Luce had the world premiere of two of her films; The Realm of God at the Berlinale and Love & Mathematics at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Notes on Film

Love & Mathematics is a comedy with hints of cynicism and sarcasm portraying a lifestyle evoking the American model, customs, and culture that the aspiring middle class tries to obtain; in contrast with the aimless life of the lead character, Billy.

It tells the story of a frustrated singer who could not do anything because he wasn’t handsome enough or talented enough. In life, there is constant competition to get ahead and become successful. Success for some is manifested by social markers, family, and material assets; some seek success in their work; and for others, it could simply be a night in which they dare to overcome their fears. The momentum Monica, a new neighbor, creates on Billy’s existence goes up to a point but is not enough to cross the finish line.

This marks my first time directing a film that I had nothing to do with the script. I wanted to try what it was like to enter an alien universe. I greatly admire screenwriter Adriana Pelusi. I included her in the entire pre-production process because I believe her contributions made the film grow, in the casting, location scouting, etc.

Love & Mathematics is set in Monterrey, Mexico’s third-largest city. It is near the border with the United States, where most of the population has great American influence and aspires to a life with supposed luxuries. Within this context, and the risk of lacking personal individuality being present, the characters of Billy and Monica become more relevant: two people who reached half their lifetime without achieving their dreams because they are beyond the expected. It is common in their orbit to aspire to a certain type of house, to have children, where everyone ends up dressing the same way. The competition is to have the best appliance, a newer car, a solid bank account, but the individual erases itself – the value of what they have to become is more important.”

– Claudia Sainte-Luce, Director