Identifying Features

Carmel International Competition

"Signals the exciting arrival of a much-needed voice
"

The Hollywood Reporter
  • Archive - Festival 36
  • Director: Fernanda Valadez
  • Mexico, Spain 2020
  • 97 minutes
  • Spanish
  • Subtitles in Hebrew

Magdalena hasn’t heard from her son in months, not since he left their town to cross the border into the United States. She begins an odyssey across Mexico, through areas of violence and desolation, chasing any available lead. Along the way, she meets Miguel, a young man recently deported from the US, and the two travel together.

Winner of the Audience Award and Best Screenplay Award at Sundance, Fernanda Valadez’s debut builds the simple but urgent premise into a lyrical, suspenseful slow burn, equally constructed of moments of beauty and horror that lead to a startling, shattering conclusion.

Feature Debut

 


  • Director Fernanda Valadez
  • Production Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez, Jack Zagha, Yossy Zagha
  • Script Fernanda Valadez, Astrid Rondero
  • Cinematography Claudia Becerril
  • Editing Fernanda Valadez, Astrid Rondero, Susan Korda
  • Music Clarice Jensen
  • Festivals Sundance (Audience Award, Special Jury Award-Best Screenplay), San Sebastian (Latin Horizons Award), Zurich (Best Film Award), Karlovy Vary, Tokyo
  • Actors Mercedes Hernandez, David Illescas, Juan Jesus Varela, Ana Laura Rodriguez
  • Source Alpha Violet, Paris