Director Julio Quintana and Actor Brett Cullen Discuss ‘The Long Game’

In an interview, director Julio Quintana and actor Brett Cullen discuss their new film, The Long Game, and their hope that telling this story will bring people together.

Inspired by the true story of five young Mexican-American caddies in 1957, and based on the book Mustang Miracle by Humberto G. Garcia, the film tells the story of these young men. Driven by their love for the game, they were determined to learn how to play. So, they created their own golf course in the middle of the South Texas desert. The Long Game which stars Jay Hernandez, Quaid, and Cheech Marin, won the 2023 SXSW Audience Award.

Julio Quintana on the importance of this film

The film takes audiences back to 1957, where J.B. Peña and his wife relocate to the small town of Del Rio, TX. While his job as a school superintendent plays a part, J.B.’s primary motivation is to join the prestigious, all-white Del Rio Country Club. However, his dreams are shattered by a discriminatory rejection based solely on skin color. Undeterred, J.B.’s world soon takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a group of young Latino golf caddies working at the club.

Inspired by their makeshift course, built out of sheer passion for the game, JB hatches a bold plan. He convinces the boys to form their own high school golf team. Despite limited experience and even scarcer resources, they embark on a transformative journey. This team will discover that the road to making history requires more than just golf skills.

Austin-based Latino writer-director Julio Quintana, whose family emigrated from Cuba, connects with the film’s themes despite the characters’ different struggles. Driven by the feeling of not belonging, Quintana explores America’s 1950s racial issues for a modern audience.

“I hope that it is something that could be an example for how we face any challenge, not just something that happened 70 years ago.”

– Julio Quintana

Quintana’s biggest challenge: translating the film’s themes into a modern context. He avoided portraying Latinos as victims, focusing instead on the dream-chasing spirit of the young men.

Brett Cullen on seeing the film for the first time in his home state of Texas

Texas actor Brett Cullen reminisces about the film’s SXSW premiere when discussing its upcoming Texas screening. He called it incredible and emphasized that their Audience Award win speaks volumes about the film’s importance.

“It was quite incredible, actually, because I hadn’t seen the movie. You know, we shot it. I was there, I read the script. I know everything that was going on. And I remember sitting in the theater. Dennis [Quaid] and Laurie, his wife, who were also producers on the film, were sitting in front of me. It was probably two-thirds of the way through the movie. I grabbed his shoulder (he and I have known each other since we were at college together, I was 17). I went “Dennis!” He’s like, “Yeah?” “It’s a great friggin’ movie, man.” He’s like, “I know it.”

And it was really wonderful. And the fact that we won the Audience Award even speaks volumes about how important this film is because it moved people, which is what I hope happens when it comes out in theaters, whether they stream it, or whatever happens down the road. That people see it, they’re touched by it, and it makes them rethink maybe a little bit about how they treat people.”

Brett Cullen

Watch our full interview with Quintana and Cullen below.

The Long Game releases in theaters April 12.