When he was just a teenager, Alejandro González Iñárritu took off on a global exploration that changed his life forever. He had an opportunity to work on a cargo ship and was able to explore different parts of Europe and Africa.
In the latest episode of "LA Stories," Iñárritu tells host Giselle Fernandez that during this time, he developed a unique sense and spirituality that allows him to see past what he’s surrounded by physically — a gift that he has since shared through many of his Oscar-winning films.
“I think it's very important to always have that frequency open. I always said that it is like AM and FM and frequencies are here,” he said, “If you have the antenna to capture the FM, you have a frequency that is higher, and so to open the receptors allows us to capture things that inform us what’s going on in better quality.”
After years of exploration, Iñárritu got a job as a radio DJ before becoming a filmmaker. Known for award-winning movies such "Amores Perros," "Babel," "Birdman" and "The Revenant," the five-time Oscar-winning director opens up about his latest film, "Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths."
Iñárritu says he identifies closely with the story, which uses surrealism and humor to explore stories of his own life. Just as the main character grapples with his insecurities and identity, so too has Iñárritu. He believes many immigrants, especially those of Mexican descent, will be able to relate to this story.
“I felt that I was ready to share personal things,” he said, “I think fiction, in a way, put light where there's darkness. And even the wounds can be healed by art… The more personal it is, the more universal it becomes.”
With films that are known for having layers of symbolism, Iñárritu explores the human condition in his work. He once used his Oscar acceptance speech to shine a light on Mexican immigrants living in the U.S.
“Nobody's an immigrant because it's a cool thing, or for a couple of dollars," he said. "It's because you have a very tough situation of life or debt most of the time with no opportunities of work.”
Iñárritu plans to continue to use his voice, his work, and his platform to continue to uplift immigrants living in the U.S.
"I want everybody to feel proud about it, to love this country, the opportunities that we have been given, but at the same time to feel proud of our roots," he said.
Watch "LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez" at 9 p.m. every Monday on Spectrum News 1.