After her father, a Tohono O'odhamtracker, leaves for work assisting the United States Border Patrol on the Mexico–U.S. border, Elsa, a six-year-old Tohono O'odham girl, finds a Hispanicmigrant her age, separated from her father as she crossed the border into the United States. Unable to communicate, Elsa takes her through her community in Sells, Arizona and ultimately to her grandmother, Gagi, who speaks Spanish, English, and O'odham and bridges the language barrier.[6]
Cast
Amaya Juan as Elsa
Zuemmy Carrillo as Ena
Virginia Patricio as Gagi
Rupert Lopez as Joe
Armondo 'Mondo' Gonzales as Mondo
Michael Geronimo as Beatboxer
Carlos Chico as Beatboxer
Production
Development and pre-production
Jefferson Stein researched the Tohono O’odham Nation for two years and worked with the community on the subject matter of the film. He and the producers lived by the reservation during pre-production. Stein further explained this, by saying: "Awareness is the first thing. There were hundreds of stories that I heard while I was there that inspired moments of this project."[7] The film is told over a 24-hour period, ending where it starts, done to highlight the cyclical nature of the separation of families at the border.[1]
The actors in the film had not acted before.[9] Amaya Juan was discovered through the local Toka team, the women-only sport she plays in the film. Zuemmy Carrillo was cast during lunch at a Bilingual elementary school in nearby Tucson.[1]
Filming
Principal photography took place over four days on the Tohono O'odham Nation Reservation.[1]
Release
The film had its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 18, 2021.[7]
