Memories of a Penitent Heart

Twenty-five years after Cecilia Aldarondo's Uncle Miguel died of AIDS, she tracks down his long-lost lover in search of answers as to why Miguel repented his homosexuality as death drew near. Uncovering the truth requires Cecilia to confront her family members with tough questions in an attempt to peel back the layers of denial associated with her uncle's sexuality. Confronting her own family's, the Latino culture's, and the Church's issues with homosexuality, she gives voice to his struggle for both love and acceptance. The search for answers about her uncle's deathbed repentance becomes a complicated exploration of unresolved family drama. Stylish and unflinching in its approach, MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART explores both the personal story of Cecilia's own family conflict, and the larger story of the AIDS crisis during the 1980s and 1990s - particularly the under-explored history of the many Latino artists who died during that time. (Florida Film Festival)