Manuel Antonio National Park, on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, has become the stage of a new Hollywood love story: “After Words.” Filming began in 2012, and the film will premiere in New York City tonight. The movie stars Academy Award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden, known for her roles in “Into the Wild” (2007) and “Mystic Rivers” (2003), alongside Oscar Jaenada Catalán, winner of a Goya for his role in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (2011).
The script, written by Joel Silverman and produced and directed by Juan Feldman, tells the romantic story of Jane (Harden), a highly introverted librarian, who loses her job because of budget cuts. While Jane spirals downward into depression and is considering suicide, she finds a book about Costa Rica whose images inspire her to take an end-of-life-journey to Central America, as Jane thinks that dying in Costa Rica might be the best thing she can do.
In Costa Rica, Jane meets a young guide named Juan (Jaenada), who shows her the profound meaning of the essential Costa Rican saying “pura vida” (“pure life”) as they embark on an adventure through beautiful Costa Rican sights and experiences. Will they be enough to change Jane’s plans to end it all in paradise? Only time will tell.
Costa Rican scenery provides the perfect background of the love story. Filming locations inclueded Manuel Antonio National Park, Portasol Living eco-community south of Manuel Antonio, Quepos, the Tárcoles River, and, on the Caribbean Coast, Puerto Viejo and Tortuguero.
Guillermo Piedra Gonzalez, Portasol Living eco-community General Director, when asked what it was like to meet and host Hollywood movie stars, said that “Oscar was really focused on his work. Marcia was really nice, down-to-earth and fun. She went into our kitchen when our cooks were making their lunch, and started talking to the ladies about their recipes. She said she would like to come back to Costa Rica with her kids. We welcome her back anytime!”
Part of the film’s inspiration came out of the coffee-table book “Costa Rica: A Journey Through Nature,” by Adrian Hepworth, which is based on his 13 years of photography fieldwork in Costa Rica.
“I have no doubt [this movie] will tempt visitors to come and experience Costa Rica for themselves,” Hepworth said in a statement.
