Arturo Menéndez Transforms Grief Into Box Office Gold

How does a deeply personal tragedy become the soul of a box office phenomenon? This week, visionary Salvadoran director Arturo Menéndez sits down with Zay Zay to unpack the incredible journey behind La Balada de Hortensia—a groundbreaking comedy-drama that’s breaking records and expectations.

In this episode, Arturo reveals how grief, transformation, and years of creative evolution culminated in a film that’s making waves across Latin America and now, the U.S. From directing tone to building characters, and balancing comedy with deep emotional themes, this is a conversation every film lover, creative, and Latino storyteller needs to hear.

- How he lost 120 pounds while filming
- Why laughter can be a response to trauma
- What it takes to represent El Salvador on the global stage
- How the death of his mother shaped the movie’s soul
- And why La Balada de Hortensia is more than a movie—it’s a movement.

Run time: 19:38
Hosted by: Zay Zay
Special Guest: Arturo Menéndez, Director of La Balada de Hortensia