Identity and self-discovery evolve in an epic journey through the majesty of a Mexico rarely seen. EL GANZO is a story that chronicles a brief and intense companionship between two travelers: a struggling artist on the verge of a break-through and a mysterious woman with a hidden and unknown past.
Lizzy and Guy find each other at the right moment in time. There is an almost instant, unconscious bond between these two lonely travelers. EL GANZO tells the story of their journey and their dramatic personal transformations.
Their journey takes them across the Baja peninsula, from the ancient and haunting beauty of Todos Santos in the west to the aquamarine sea and coral reefs of Cabo Pulmo in the east, all the while centered in the warm embrace of Hotel El Ganzo in Los Cabos. It is during their stay at El Ganzo that they are each enlightened and transformed.
Along the way, Guy is struggling to find the inspiration he needs to create his masterpiece, while Lizzy struggles with finding out who she really is. As she starts to remember her old identity, and discovers her new identity, Guy begins to awaken within.
The two become deeply connected as their individual senses of self – and the concurrent desires for companionship – grow like the luscious pitaya fruit on a cactus.
Special note: Merely weeks after filming wrapped, Hurricane Odile struck Los Cabos and destroyed Hotel El Ganzo and nearly everything you see in this film. The spirit of the place, and its people, and the magic captured in this film, no longer exists on Earth in the same way
"Splendorous”
HUFFINGTON POST READ FULL REVIEW
"Hits especially close to home”
HARPERS BAZAAR
"FOUR STARS. A great film… meticulously crafted with gentleness and love.”
MEDIA DETOUR READ FULL REVIEW
“Steve’s direction of the film is immaculate… Magical... Watching Traylor and Richardson is a master class in screen acting.
This is a wistful film… It’s about what has been, what could have been and what might be, as well as what is. And really, aren’t all our lives a bit like that? But it takes an artist of Steve Balderson’s calibre to make us think wistfully about our own lives like this, and for each of us to find out that bit more about who we are.”
MJ SIMPSON, UK FILM CRITIC READ FULL REVIEW
“Balderson is more concerned with the journey rather than the destination, putting the focus on redemption and leaving the past exactly where it belongs.
It is a rare thing for a film to blend story and location so seamlessly to where they become one thing, and Traylor and Richardson soon become part of the landscape along with all the images of sand and surf. In a very real way, the players in Balderson’s film are on equal footing with the location itself.”
ATHENS BANNER-HERALD READ FULL REVIEW
"Simple, yet intimate... beautiful, dream-like photography and sound... pensively romantic... poignantly stark."
THE BRITISH BLACK LIST READ FULL REVIEW
CAST & CREW
LIZZY SUSAN TRAYLOR
GUY ANSLEM RICHARDSON
BILLY MARK BOOKER
MAGDALENA MAGDALENA DEL RIO
DIRECTED BY
STEVE BALDERSON
PRODUCED BY
JENNIFER DREILING
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
DANIEL G. STEPHENS
FIRST A.C. MICHAEL PAGE
PRODUCTION SOUND BECKIJO NEILL
AUDIO MIXING DUTCH HAMILTON
FOLEY & RE-RECORDING NATHANIEL REESE
ORIGINAL SCORE
MARK BOOKER
FEATURING MUSIC BY
LUNA ITZEL
MARK RUDIN
ADDITIONAL INSTRUMENTATION
KEVIN PEIRCE
PROFESSOR LAFFERTY
If you are looking for HOTEL EL GANZO, you can find the official page for the hotel at this link or by clicking the image below.