Last Sunday, May 11, we had the honor of hosting an exclusive pre-release screening of Hernán Jiménez’s latest film at the UWC Costa Rica Campus.
Hernán is a Costa Rican filmmaker, screenwriter, actor, stand-up comedian, and UWC Alum. As a friend of our community, he wanted to share his newest project with UWC students and staff.
His film, Abril, tells the story of a mother who has spent fifteen years pouring her heart into raising her daughter—sacrificing dreams, sleep, and a great degree of sanity. But her world tips sideways when her daughter announces she’s had enough and wants to move in with her father. Determined to keep her life intact, the mother embarks on a whirlwind mission to prove she’s the only home her daughter needs. This fight tests every ounce of her patience and courage, forcing Abril to ask herself whether a lifetime of motherly devotion is destined to unravel in one rebellious swoop.
The movie was filmed and produced entirely in Costa Rica, and, according to Hernán, it is still in post-production. He explained there’s still work to be done regarding sound design, music selection, color grading, and editing. Nonetheless, we all deeply enjoyed this early cut of the film.
After the screening, students and staff had the opportunity to offer Hernán their feedback and share the emotions the film stirred in them. The conversation also allowed him to reflect on his time as a student at UWC Pearson College and how that experience helped shape the person and artist he is today. In turn, students shared their own UWC journeys, along with their hopes and plans for the future.
It was a truly special afternoon of storytelling, connection, and reflection—one that reminded us of the power of film to spark dialogue and bring our community closer together.
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