Miami (USA) (EFE).- The Colombian actor Manolo Cardona makes his debut as a director in “One to die”, a thriller filmed in Mexico and starring himself that, according to what he told EFE, is a tribute to Korean cinema .
“From a very young age I was fond of international cinema and I went to video stores to look for the most different films possible and in that search I discovered the work of Koreans, and I was fascinated,” recalled Cardona, who traveled to the United States to present his film.
“Today, Koreans have fascinated the world with their productions, but the truth is that there is a tradition and a very important film legacy there,” he said.
That was the audiovisual language that inspired him for his debut, a film incorporated as of this Friday into the Paramount + catalog.
“One to die for” tells the story of seven people who wake up in a house where none of them have any idea how they got there. Suddenly, a voice tells them that they have one hour to decide which of them will die. If they don’t they will kill them all.
The cast of “One to die for”
In addition to Cardona, the cast is made up of Maribel Verdú, Carla Adell, Juan Carlos Remolina, Adriana Paz, Dagoberto Gama and Fernando Becerril. The latter passed away last February and for the Colombian artist it has been bittersweet to think of a premiere without him.
“He really did spectacular. I wish he could be a part of this, but I’m content to think that he was satisfied with this farewell job,” said Cardona, who began his career in 1996 in his native Colombia.
Since that time, he cherished the dream of achieving what he has done with “Uno para morir”: “Being one of those artists who can be in front of and behind the cameras”.
Famous for starring in soap operas such as “El cartel de los sapos” (2008) and its sequel (2010) and series such as “La hermandad” and the Netflix megahit “Quién mató a Sara”, Cardona had been experimenting with production for more than 13 years. and launched his production house 11:11 Films & TV with his brother Juancho Cardona.
His most recent credits as a producer include the series “La negociadora” and “Parientes a la fuerza”, and the film “Amalgama”.
Manolo Cardona’s challenge as a director and actor
Although sharing the responsibilities of director and protagonist “was not the easiest thing”, he did want to do it again because he felt “very supported and accompanied by the entire team”.
“It was by no means a solo adventure,” he said.
The film was produced by the international studio Paramount in association with the production company of the Cardona brothers.
But in addition, the artist assured that having Verdú by his side represented a “great dose of confidence”.
After working together on several productions – the most recent was the Apple TV + series “Now and Then” – “we have become brothers and there is confidence for her to tell me her opinion without keeping anything inside,” he said.
“I sent him the script and his yes confirmed that he was looking at this project that would allow me to achieve my goal.”