Synopsis: In the not-so-distant future of 2084, Ángel finds himself trapped as a climate migrant in an unspecified smart city, under constant surveillance. Amidst a bleak and oppressive existence, Ángel makes a living by cultivating plants, preserving the fading wisdom of seeds.
Within this desolate landscape he crosses paths with Sofia, another climate migrant who works at a recycling facility. Fate intertwines their lives when a chance encounter reveals an unexpected connection: a shared language.
Fueling Ángel’s longing for human connection and a glimmer of hope, he reaches out to Sofia. Aware of the omnipresent digital monitoring, Ángel decides to communicate with her through the timeless medium of pen and paper, fostering an intimate, clandestine bond.
As their secret correspondence unfolds, a friendship grows between Ángel and Sofia as does their desire for liberation from excessive control.
Director Bio:
Itandehui Jansen was born in Oaxaca, Mexico and studied film directing at the Netherlands Film Academy in Amsterdam. She participated in different international training programs, such as the BERLINALE TALENTS, The BINGER FILM LAB, and the TORINO FILM LAB.
Her films have screened at international festivals such as the IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam), FICM (Morelia International Film Festival), Washington D.C. Shorts, ZINEBI, the London Short Film Festival, and SLAMDANCE.
Her films have received several international awards and she was nominated for the Mexican Film Critics Award Diosa de Plata. Her feature drama film In Times of Rain won the Award for Best Emerging Feature Film at the Oaxaca Film Fest.
At present she is Associate Professor of Film at Screen Academy Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University.
Director Statement: “
In crafting this film, our main objective was to delve into the issues surrounding climate change and environmental crisis from an Indigenous perspective.
At the heart of the story lies the profound sense of loneliness and isolation experienced by a migrant who finds himself without anyone to share his native language with. Through the intimate medium of letters, the main characters forge a connection as they reflect on the circumstances that compelled them to leave their communities, devastated by relentless droughts. Their correspondence is brought to life through voice-overs in Mixtec (an Indigenous language).
Climate change and environmental crisis are central elements of the narrative. Thus, we always considered sustainability as essential to our film making approach. We worked with existing locations, props, and wardrobe, and “gleaned” images to shape the story.
We opted for a minimal crew, limiting travel and choosing to walk to set. By shooting on locations in Edinburgh with available natural light, we allowed the organic ambience of the surroundings to dictate the aesthetic choices.
Throughout the production, we meticulously monitored our carbon footprint, employing the ALBERT carbon calculator tools and undertook measures to offset our final footprint, ensuring that our impact remained minimal. The final overall carbon footprint of this production is less than one tonne of CO2, a remarkable achievement when compared to both mainstream and even low-budget independent productions.
Through this film, we want to initiate conversations about the interconnections between climate change, surveillance, migration, and the Indigenous experience. It is our hope that this cinematic exploration serves as a catalyst for empathy, and a renewed commitment to safeguarding the environment for generations to come.”
