Via Zoom: ‘Bye Bye Chicago’ Premieres at Chicago Latino Film Fest

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CHICAGO – The 38th Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) wraps up on Sunday, May 1st, 2022, but not before premiering a locally based film entitled “Bye Bye Chicago.” The playwright Roma Díaz makes his fiction feature film debut as writer/co-director alongside co-director Enrique Gaona, Jr.

Dalia (Luisa Franco) is a young college student from Colombia who befriends her elderly Mexican neighbor, Miguel (Roberto Díaz Blanquel). Though reluctant at first, lonely Miguel slowly begins to accept what Dalia is offering him, companionship and a sympathetic ear. Dalia finds things they have in common, like his love of music, as he once dreamt of becoming a famous singer in Mexico before coming to Chicago over 30 years ago. Their friendship evolves, and Luisa connects Miguel back into the world, including friends, family and his past. As one of the themes of “Bye Bye Chicago” states, you know where you are born, you don’t necessarily know where you will die.

Roma Díaz, who wrote the script, arrived from Mexico 23 years ago, and has worked in Chicago theater throughout the years. In 2006, he founded the Tecolote Theater Company in the Little Village neighborhood, producing stage plays in Spanish. His co-director of “Bye Bye Chicago” is 20-year-old Enrique Gaona Jr., is a DePaul film student who has known Díaz since he was a child, and began to work on the film when he was a senior in high school.

Bye Bye Chicago
Photo credit: ChicagoLatinoFilmFestival.org

In an interview via Zoom with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, co-directors Enrique Gaona Jr. and Roma Díaz talk about “Bye Bye Chicago” (Note: Gaona translates for Díaz in the interview) …

Trailer for “Bye Bye Chicago” …

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com