Memories of a Penitent Heart

A quarter-century after Miguel’s passing due to AIDS, his niece, filmmaker Cecilia Aldarondo, delves into a tangled web of lingering family conflicts. Similar to numerous gay men in the 1980s, Miguel relocated from Puerto Rico to New York City, where he pursued a career in theater and found a fulfilling romantic relationship. However, as he lay dying, he struggled to come to terms with his homosexuality in light of his Catholic upbringing. Now, years after his death, Cecilia tracks down Miguel’s partner, Robert, who has been ostracized and vilified by the family, in an effort to uncover the complete narrative.