

A painter from the big city goes to a remote canyon to commit suicide. To reach some calmness he stays at the farmstead of Ascen, an old religious woman. Although only a few words are spoken, love grows.
Cinematography
Handheld 16mm that makes the canyon feel like another character.
Direction
Reygadas casts his actual 70-year-old maid as lead—zero acting experience.

Director
Carlos Reygadas
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Magdalena Flores had never seen a movie before filming. Reygadas found her cleaning his apartment.
Part of the 'New Mexican Cinema' movement that rejected Hollywood pacing for spiritual exhaustion. This was its provocation.