Educational Media Reviews Online

This is a film that keeps you guessing throughout, as the viewer follows the lives of three individuals, María, Esteban, and Toña, as they return to their Mixtec village in Oaxaca, Mexico. Their stories are only loosely threaded together, and each touches on a different theme the director, Ángeles Cruz, wanted to explore. These are big themes; discrimination against LGBTQ+, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, childhood trauma, and economic migration are all woven throughout the three stories, with each single story having a central focus. At the same time, the film highlights the village community and how life proceeds.

Overall, this film is very well made. Visuals are captivating and there are beautiful shots throughout. Performances are all strong, and the film is well cast. Myriam Bravo is particularly good as Toña, as she subtly shows her growing understanding of herself and daughter. There are some ambiguities left as the film ends, which highlight the stories and leave the viewer reflecting on the nature of the film. One theme that stood out was the idea “you can never go home again.”

In a classroom setting, the film could be divided into one of the three stories if needed. In particular, Esteban’s story, played by Noé Hernández, would be valuable for highlighting the role of the village council in the lives of the people. As a whole, the film could be useful for discussing emigration, and what leads people to leave their communities, and how that impacts those communities. Much of the film deals with how the past impacts the present.

There are some ways the film could be tricky for a classroom. Mariá’s story is quiet and slow to develop. This is unfortunate, since her story opens the film. Similarly, the structure of the film may leave some students frustrated and confused if they are more familiar with linear stories.

A well-made film that stays with the viewer, this is certainly worth watching and potentially useful in the right classroom. Recommended.

Awards:
Morelia International Film Festival, Audience Award and Best Screenplay; San Francisco International Film Festival, Critics Jury Award; Minneapolis St. Paul Int'l Film Festival, Emerging Filmmaker Competition; Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Int'l Film Festival, Audience Award

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