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“Una Prosa Profana” (Profane Prose) is the latest short film by Nicaraguan filmmaker Juan Vílchez, offering a look into “power dynamics, corruption, guilt, and revenge.” According to the director, the film is inspired by the “spirit of rebellion” found in Ruben Darío’s poetry collection Prosas Profanas.
“The story was born out of my desire to explore relationships of power, guilt, and personal ideals. I drew inspiration from experiences close to me and from things I’ve observed throughout my life in and outside Nicaragua,” says the young filmmaker.
Juan Vílchez developed the project throughout 2024 and shot it over five days in November, self-financed through his savings and supported by friends. The film stars Marina Jacoby, Miss Nicaragua 2016.
Una Prosa Profana tells the story of Valentina, a frustrated young poet who accepts an invitation from Aura, a retired prosecutor, to give private writing lessons at her mansion. What seems like a professional opportunity quickly turns into a tension-filled encounter as secrets from the past surface, linking the two women, according to Vílchez.
“I didn’t base the short film on a specific poem, but rather on the book’s spirit. I was inspired by how Dario used poetry to question established structures, something Valentina, the protagonist, also does through her decisions,” the director explains.
The short film features a Latin American cast led by three main characters: Marina Jacoby plays Valentina, Brazilian actress Cynthia Chavez portrays Aura, and Alex Enriquez, based in Los Angeles, plays Roman, the prosecutor’s son.
The supporting cast includes Mexican actor Max Villa as Valentina’s boyfriend, and Salvadoran actress Gabriela Melgar as a mother who complicates the young poet’s life. David Shih, a US-based filmmaker living in the Bay Area, is also part of the US cast. Lauren Guillen, the filmmaker’s girlfriend, was in charge of makeup, wardrobe and was a key supporter of Juan Vilchez’s career in the United States.
The short film is about to begin its run at independent film festivals, including the San Francisco Festival in San Jose and Sundance. Later, it will be available to Nicaraguan audiences via platforms like YouTube.
Juan Vílchez’s Journey to the United States
In June 2023, Juan Vílchez decided to emigrate to the United States, motivated by professional aspirations and his relationship with Lauren Guillen, a Nicaraguan citizen living in the US.
“There aren’t many opportunities for artists in Nicaragua, and I feel like there are more in the US.,” he says.
The first few months were challenging due to cultural adjustment and being away from family. For a year and a half, he worked at the San Jose airport in Northern California for the marketing company Clear. At the same time, he freelanced on platforms like Upwork, offering video editing, wedding photography, and headshot services.
His full-time job and freelance gigs allowed him to save enough to move into his own apartment and invest in filmmaking equipment. He has spent around $6,000 on audio and video gear.
Recently, the Nicaraguan filmmaker managed to leave his job at the airport to focus completely to his artistic career and independent work.
A Passion for Film
Juan Vílchez’s love for movies began during his childhood in Ocotal, Nueva Segovia. His father, a fan of mafia movies, introduced him to the world of “The Godfather” saga and actors such as Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.
As a child, he also loved video games like Zelda, which required solving puzzles, something he credits with sparking his interest in creating thought-provoking stories.
“Since I was little, I always knew I was going to do something creative,” recalls the filmmaker, who enrolled at age 17 at the American University (UAM) to study Communications and Public Relations.
His choice was no accident—he carefully reviewed the curriculum and picked a program that included courses related to photography and film.
At 17, his mother gave him his first camera, a Canon T3, with which he and his friend Carlos Gonzalez shot their first short film: Somos.
“Anyone who knows cameras knows the Canon T3 isn’t very good—it’s super cheap and awful—but when you’re just starting out, that doesn’t matter. What you want is to tell a story,” Vílchez says with a laugh.
Prior to Una Prosa Profana, the young filmmaker wrote, produced and filmed four short films in Nicaragua: Minotauro, Etéreo, Familiars and Momento cursi de la noche. These were screened at festivals such as the “Ícaro Internacional” and the “Festival Lúdico de España”.
Vílchez says his work tends to focus on themes like family, corruption, and ambition, always with an eye toward challenging traditional narratives and representing stories that make audiences think.
