Guillermo Ivan and Joel Benitez are Mexican immigrants working in the United States during Trump’s xenophobic presidency. They are both emotionally vulnerable and determined to overcome multiple challenges, including the demolition of a human trafficking ring and writing, directing, producing and starring in a film.
Just about the only difference between them is that Ivan is real, and Benitez is fictional.
Ivan who plays Benitez in Telemundo’s hit telenovela, Al Otro Lado Del Muro, settles into his seat in a dimly lit Manhattan restaurant, his eyes piercing the darkness. He says he had to dig deep to pull emotions from within to bring Benitez to life, in part, by practicing a Tai Chi technique that “softens the muscles in order to exert maximum strength.”
Benitez is a tough, but sensitive, Interpol agent who constantly saves the day. The passion that fuels his love for the main character, Sofia, also feeds his courage to fight off bad guys. Strength and sensitivity coexist.
“The [Tai Chi] concept is so powerful because when I was playing Joel, the main objective was to find the fragility in him as well,” Ivan says. “I wanted to see what was inside of him and I wanted to understand that within myself.”
Al Otro Lado Del Muro is not your typical love story. This telenovela follows the lives of two Mexican women Eliza (a baker) and Sofia Villavicencio (wife of a corrupt politician) who cross the border into the US. Eliza is chasing a dream; Sofia is escaping a nightmare.
Art imitates life as these women undergo some of the same struggles that many undocumented immigrants are forced to endure in America today. They live in fear of being jailed or being separated from their loved ones. Ivan’s character is Sofia’s romantic interest, as well as her ally in exposing her husband’s crooked politics. Each character battles issues that are prevalent in our society: gang violence, pedophilia, deportation, sexual misconduct, divorce and mental health issues.
“This changed the DNA of the content we’re used to seeing in telenovelas,” explained Ivan, adding, “I applaud Telemundo for taking a risk on AOLDM. It’s a big responsibility and I’m glad we’re doing something like this because I think Latino audiences are tired of the same tales: ‘la niña pobre con el tipo rico.’ There are so many layers…I don’t know if the network will continue [creating shows like this], but it definitely set a precedent.”
Ivan originally wanted to stay away from telenovelas and lean more toward cinematic work. But Al Otro Lado Del Muro felt right from the start.
“They approached a subject that to me is very important as a Latino in this country. People come pursuing the American dream and in some cases, they have no option…and I said ‘wow, this is something cool. I really want to do this.’”
The Mexi-Cubano admits that living in the US during such a trying time for Mexican immigrants, in particular, is tough, but it’s a hurdle he can jump over. After being denied a scholarship in Mexico seven times, the young actor traveled to Cuba to further his studies then received another grant to study film at HB Studios in New York.
“It’s been hard, I’m not going to lie, but they’re just obstacles that you can overcome, and obstacles make you a better person,” he says.
Telemundo aired its final AOLDM episode on June 11. But, this won’t be the last of Ivan. The producer, actor, writer, and director is currently shooting his next feature film, “The Last Rumba,” set to release in 2019.