Filmmaker Ernesto Quintero‘s remarkable documentary, A Sacred Journey, will make you want to run home and hug your loved ones.  In this must-see film, the camera glides into the complexities of a brother’s devastating terminal diagnosis and the immense care that will be required to see him through the three years he was given to live.

At 35, Juan Jose Quintero was diagnosed with ALS (Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease), a ravaging disease that eventually renders patients completely immobile as the nerve cells that control muscle movement begin to die.  This shattering disease is still a mystery to the medical field, and as such, it is considered incurable. To compound the tragedy, Juan’s diagnosis came at a time in which he was also dealing with his own young son’s extremely rare blood disease (Diamond Blackfan Anemia, or DBA) that required him to receive life-saving blood transfusions every two weeks of his life.

That said, the story is so much more than the tragic circumstances of Juan’s life.  Somehow, amidst the sadness and loss, emerges a story of transcendent love and unity.  One of the many miracles the film demonstrates is the fact that his brother’s diagnosis proved to be the catalyst that pulled filmmaker Ernesto Quintero out of a near-fatal, ten-year drug addiction.  He describes the journey he hopes the film will take its viewers on: “It’s a story that fills you with compassion for Juan and his family, for all the challenges they experience, and it’s a powerful barometer for taking a look at your own life.  You get to feel the contrast of something so tragic butted up against the incredible beauty of the family and community coming together, almost racing to show Juan who can love and support him the most. “

A Sacred Journey traverses the difficult terrain of a story of illness with a graceful balance of necessary rawness and intensity, contrasted with laughter and celebration.  We are fully along for the ride as Juan receives the diagnosis and the family scrambles to cope both financially and emotionally; we sigh with relief as we laugh at the silliness of family outings, and we celebrate with joyful tears at the birthdays and community fundraisers that demonstrate the power of love to elevate even the most heartrending of circumstances.  

What also becomes utterly apparent throughout the film is the heroic nature of caregiving, a 24/7 endeavor whose contributors receive a much-deserved spotlight.  A 2014 study from the Clorox Corporation, avid supporters of this film, revealed that there are currently 66 million caregivers in the nation; it is a sobering thought, as echoed by a quote at the top of the film from former First Lady Rosalind Carter, that at some point, most of us will either be on the receiving or giving end of care.  This concept is most powerfully personified in the film by Micaela Quintero, the family’s matriarch, who at sixty-eight gave up her successful thirty-year flower shop in order to go back to school and obtain a Certified Nurse Assistant certificate which would allow her to best care for her son at home. Additionally, her husband and children all fulfill their roles as caregivers; it’s truly a family affair.  

Finally, there is the story of the legacy that Juan wishes to leave the Sacred Heart community he was raised in, the “token of gratitude,” as Juan christens it, that will serve as a powerful reminder of the beating heart of the film.  

Ernesto sums up his message of hope: “Ultimately, it’s my intention that you be left with an immense appreciation for your own life, for even the small moments of true connection or silliness, for the love of your family and a real gratitude and awareness of all the things that really matter in life.”

Be sure not to miss this powerful film which is currently doing the festival circuit.

A Sacred Journey also had a screening on May 17^th and 19^th at the Downtown Independent LA. Three screening and each and everyone, a full house.

A Q&A with Director, Ernesto Quintero; Associate State Director, AARP California, Adriana Mendoza; Juan’s primary caretaker, Micaela Quintero; and the rest of the Quintero family followed each screening.

A Sacred Journey
Director: Ernesto Quintero
Running Time: 73 minutes
(English w/some Spanish Subtitles)

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May 17^th & 19^th

Tickets On Sale Now

May is ALS Awareness Month and the ALS community is seeking the help of individuals willing to participate, advocate and donate to advance the fight toward a world free of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” In support of ALS Awareness Month, Higher Ground Entertainment presents A Sacred Journey, a powerful documentary about the transformative power of caring, to Los Angeles audiences on Friday, May 17^th and Sunday, May 19^th at the historic Downtown Independent LA, located at 251 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. 

A Sacred Journey follows Juan Quintero‘s journey, who at age thirty-five was diagnosed with ALS and given only three years to live. After receiving the devastating news, filmmaker Ernesto Quintero, decides to pick up his camera and begin documenting his brothers story, an experience that would save his own life after years of battling drug addiction. Through this journey, we witness a family struggle with Juan’s decision to continue living with the use of a ventilator or allow ALS to take its course. To compound the tragedy, Juan’s diagnosis came at a time in which he was also dealing with his own son’s extremely rare blood disease (Diamond Blackfan Anemia, or DBA) that would require him to receive life-saving blood transfusions every two weeks of his young life. View Trailer

A Sacred Journeyalso offers an intimate look at how caregivers often put the needs of their loved ones before themselves. This caregiving role is exemplified in the film by the family’s matriarch, Micaela Quintero. At age sixty-eight, she sold her successful thirty-year flower shop in order to go back to school and obtain a Certified Nurse Assistant certificate which would allow her to best care for her son at home. 

“While ours is a very personal story, I know it will resonate with audiences everywhere because the fact is you’re either a caregiver or a care receiver or will be one of the two at some point in your life,” said director, Ernesto Quintero.

The film puts a much-needed spotlight on the caregiving family which unites and sacrifices everything to honor their loved one’s will to live. Studies show that 40% of caregivers die before the person they are caring for.

The ALS Association notes that personal stories and passionate testimonials help demonstrate to members of Congress why more must be done to support the quest for a cure for this disease.

“This story is so much more than the tragic circumstances of Juan’s life.  Somehow, amidst the sadness and loss, emerges a story of transcendent love and unity and we need to keep searching for a cure but also celebrate and take care of those who are caregiving…” adds Quintero, “Our goal is to take this film across the nation and celebrate the 66 million caregivers that exist in this country, and help to organize a national Latino registry for ALS and MS patients.”

A Sacred Journey will screen on Friday, May 17 at 7:30 PM and on Sunday, May 19 at 5:15 PM and 7:15 PM. A Q&A discussion immediately following screenings will be moderated by two-time Emmy Award-winning KTLA reporter Elizabeth Espinosa. Speakers will include AARP Associate Director, AdrianaMendoza, A Sacred Journey Director, Ernesto Quintero and the members of the Quintero family. 

A Sacred Journey is sponsored by Zutra Water, Grapevine Development, Maracas Cafe & Catering and Señor Fish, who will be offering a 25% discount to filmgoers upon presenting their movie ticket when placing their order.  

To purchase tickets for A Sacred Journey:CLICK HERE

For more information about A Sacred Journey, please visit:
www.asacredjourneyfilm.com/

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A Sacred Journey
Director: Ernesto Quintero
Producer: Danny Haro
Producer: Yvonne Jimenez
Running Time: 73 Mins
English w/some Spanish (Subtitled in English)

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