LINA'S STORIES
Lina's Stories is a documentary that captures the extraordinary life and career of Chilean-Canadian theater director and community elder Lina de Guevara. Through the lens of her former mentee, Sebastian Mena, the film chronicles Lina’s journey and the creative process of bringing her stories to life. This nostalgic homage explores memory, nostalgia, and intergenerational relationships through performance, celebrating Lina's legacy as a cultural pioneer and providing a platform for her to assert her agency and preserve her histories.
The documentary began as an archival project at the University of Toronto, aiming to capture the stories of Lina de Guevara, the celebrated founder of Puente Theatre, Canada’s first Latinx theater company. Framed from the perspective of Sebastian Mena, the film honors early Latin American migration to Canada and the growing diaspora through performance art based on Lina’s stories. Collaborator and Lina alumnus Romina Miranda joins Mena and de Guevara in creating and directing a show about Lina's life, weaving together performance pieces inspired by Lina’s experiences. The film focuses on themes of immigration, senior autonomy, preservation of diasporic histories, and intergenerational relationships.
​
Set in Victoria, B.C., this full-length process film follows the changing seasons, culminating in Lina's 93rd birthday. It documents three artists navigating the creation of a performance art-based film. Through interviews, rehearsals, personal stories, and archival material, the film offers a playful yet nostalgic exploration of memory, culture, history, and intergenerational relationships. Performance and creation bring the film’s themes to life through candid conversations and behind-the-scenes footage, underscoring the significance and urgency of preserving and celebrating a community elder and her cultural legacy, all while confronting the realities of aging.