Unveiling A Million Miles Away: Alejandra Márquez Abella's Insider Look

So you co-wrote and directed this movie. Why was it important to tell his story specifically? It is important because it's an amazing story. It's an unusual story. It's exceptional. Not every day a boy that grew up in the fields becomes an astronaut. So I think this is just one of a kind. Personally, I think this is a very inspiring story for many Latinos who live in the States and who don't have the same luck or the same experience, as Jose did.

So I think this is just the bright side of how life can turn for many people in the States. This year, I feel like we've been telling Latino stories because we had Blue Beetle, superhero, and now we've got a real life superhero. So was the timing of this something you felt was good? This was the right time? Or would you have waited longer at some point?

No, no, no. I think it takes a village. Yeah, absolutely. like in Jose's story, I think. The more the merrier, and we have to grow as a community. So I'm super glad to be sharing this year with those amazing films about basically underdogs who overcome stuff and become great. - Absolutely, and including the Latin culture in that. I feel like there was a lot of that infused in this movie as well.

What were some of the unique challenges of making this film for you? - Oof, there were a lot. I think I can't even think of one day that wasn't challenging for me on set. But I think we've seen a lot of Mexico and Latinos on film that has not been as authentic as it should be. So I think the biggest challenge for me was to do something that was appealing for the general public without losing authenticity and being true to the community.

- How much access and cooperation did you get from both NASA and Jose himself? - Jose, I call him my uncle, my astronaut uncle. He was super nice, no? He opened his, literally his, his, his doors for me. No, I was received in his home with Adela. So I knew his family, I knew his parents and we, we had an instant relationship. He opened the doors for, for us to come to NASA and to talk to everyone.

So I was like, okay, I'm friends with an astronaut. So, you know, let me in, let me in. I want to see the pool. I went, you know, and it was just fun. - Let's talk about the actors. Why cast them? What did they bring to the project for you specifically? - I think understanding that this is a Mexican-American story. It's not a Mexican story. I'm Mexican, you know?

But Rosa and Michael are Mexican-American. Well, no, Rosa is Peruvian. But she's, you know, it's, They know and they have not only, they have the essence of that experience, I think both of them, and they are exceptional actors. I just, I was so lucky. - They were so great in this, and they had such a good connection. Was that really important to you, that those actors have that connection?

- Yes, completely. I think the love story in A Million Miles Away is pivotal, no? It's just the center of, I like to say that Adela is Jose's rockets, you know, the boosters that let him fly. So, yeah, that was part of the, the ignition for me. Especially because if she had been not as encouraging, he never would have done it. No. So yeah, she really was his rocket.

Absolutely. What's next for you at this point? I know it's hard right now because everybody's taken a few days off. But what's next? - I'm directing, I'm doing some television. I hope I'll be on set for a next film soon. - Let's hope so, absolutely. And what would you like people to take away from this movie? - I would like people to praise their origins because if you praise them, you have everything that you need inside you and it's there, it's in your origins.

And it doesn't matter where you come from, your ethics and your force is there. So you have to honor them and praise them. And this story is really a lot about family. Do you feel we're getting away from that as a society? Totally. I think that's something that represents the Latino community. No, the communal experience, I think it's a thing that is linked to Latin-ness.

And I think we're losing that in the world. So people should be more Latino. I agree, family is so important and I feel like we are losing that. I loved the film. I really enjoyed it. Such a feel-good story. [Music]