El Eco
Intimate, immersive documentary about daily life in Mexico’s mountain community of El Eco, an almost mythical place where the community lives in harmony with the seasons.
Even though the village of El Eco is not far from the Mexican capital, everything there is different. The environment, the people, the activities. The few – mostly female – residents look after the animals, the land and each other. The bonds between them are close and warm. For generations, the patterns have been repeating themselves in fixed rhythms of births and deaths. The men work far away, but are still traditionally minded as far as the role of women is concerned, while appreciation for the work the women do in the absence of the men is low. Only the teenage girl Montse cautiously dreams of a different path. As an experienced horse rider, she would like to enter a local horse race, even though her mother has forbidden it. However, responsibilities in the village community put a stop to her plans.
Huezo mainly focuses on the strength and courage of women who have to manage on their own. This intimate chronicle, with great camerawork, portrays this in a clear and patient way, and deservedly won the award for best documentary at the Berlin International Film Festival. (av)