[on casting newcomer
Luis Silva] My biggest challenge was to find a young male lead. I wanted a young 17-year old non-actor with a great talent. I think I found the next
Edgar Ramírez. He's a natural. While at a casting agency in Venezuela, I saw the picture of a youth who was not even there to audition; he was there to accompany a friend. But I saw in his face great compassion, rage, great humanity and pain. He comes from a dangerous barrio in Caracas. I met him, we had lunch, saw a movie and I knew he was right for the role. I never did a camera test, which was quite risky. I didn't want him to meet my older male lead, the great Chilean actor
Alfredo Castro, before the shoot, as I knew there would be a lot of tension in their scenes, and wanted that to register on camera.[2015]
