'Zuretzako', from director of 'Artzainak', to premiere in Boise

The latest work from Basque-American director Javi Zubizarreta, "Zuretzako" ("For You"), will premiere next Thursday, August 18th, from 7 to 10 p.m., at the Egyptian Theatre in downtown Boise.

The 60 minute movie, which stars Javi's father Luis and his brother Josu, had the working title "What Aitxitxe Said", a reference to the film's protagonist, Javi's grandfather 'Aitxitxe' Joaquin (played by Luis), the first Zubizerreta to emigrate to the US in 1935.

"When life repeats itself," says Javi, "we'll do anything to change our destiny. Zuretzako tells the story of the sacrifices that fathers make, and the toll it takes on their sons."

Zuretzako starts in 1935, though it later shifts to 1955 when Joaquin is back in the Basque Country with his wife and children and must leave them once again. The action then moves to 1975, when his own son Luis (played by Josu) comes to America to herd with him. Father and son must deal with the fact that they haven't seen each other for many years.

"Years alone in the mountains have turned Joaquin quiet," says the 22-year-old film student. "Despite his efforts, Joaquin's son Luis eventually joins him herding... Joaquin wants his son to have a better life, his son simply wants a relationship with his dad."

Zubizerreta enjoyed previous success with his documentary Artzainak: Shepherds and Sheep, which takes a look at the history of shepherding on the Idaho hills near where he grew up.

Thanks to his work on Artzainak, Javi received the Prince Grace Foundation's Cary Grant Award, a prize that afforded him the financial freedom to create a more ambitious final project than he may otherwise have hoped.

Artzainak was later selected for the International Film Festival of Ireland, a fact which automatically earned the short documentary a page on the well-known Internet Movie Database, IMDb.com.