Matthew Heineman on ‘The Boy From Medellín’

The director says if you end up with the story you started with, you weren't listening along the way

It started off as a concert film and grew into something else. The Boy from Medellín, about J Balvin’s preparation for his 2019 homecoming concert grew into a introspection on social media, art and activism and mental health. Speaking over video call, director Matthew Heineman says, “The film was supposed to be a lead-up to the biggest show of his (Balvin’s) life in Medellín. Little did we know that when we landed in Medellín, the country was going through massive protests. The film became a meditation on the role of an artist and his role in society. That is what happens with documentaries. I believe if you end up with the story you started with, then you weren't listening along the way.”