From Civil War to Cineplex: Julio Yúdice & Francisco Gattorno on El Salvador’s Biggest Film

Julio Yúdice and Francisco Gattorno join Zay Zay to talk about La Balada de Hortensia, a groundbreaking Salvadoran film that’s taken the U.S. by storm. In this heartfelt and hilarious conversation, they explore how comedy became survival during El Salvador’s civil war, how Julio built the iconic “La Tenchis” character, and why this film is more than just a hit — it’s a historic milestone.

From raw personal stories to behind-the-scenes revelations, this episode captures two legends reflecting on identity, resilience, and Latinx storytelling with heart and truth.

– La Balada de Hortensia premieres in U.S. theaters May 2 — don’t miss it!

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00:00 Intro
01:44 La Balada de Hortensia’s U.S. Premiere
05:10 Did They Expect This Much Success?
08:25 Julio on Creating La Tenchis
12:40 Comedy Born from Civil War
17:30 Francisco’s Acting Philosophy
21:18 How Comedy & Tragedy Collide
24:50 Playing a Woman Under Attack
27:35 Why Salvadorans Must See This Film
30:12 Outro & Blessings

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