Feliciano Sánchez Flores

Margarita and Evaristo, a peasant couple, live alone in their hut at the foot of the Malintzin volcano. Every day they wait for the Techiq bird to announce the return of their son, who migrated long ago in search of work and has not returned. One morning, Margarita falls ill, and a forest creature appears before Evaristo. Is it death, or something more?

Guided by the longing to see his father again, a young man wanders deep into the forest to perform an ancient ritual. Surrounded by candles, shadows, and memories, he learns that calling on the dead can awaken something far more sinister.

On a rainy night, Diego attempts to play the song Citlali once taught him. Each chord takes him back to the day she tried to speak, but he chose not to listen. Through clumsy chords, Diego confronts the consequences of that seemingly insignificant moment, learning that some words, once lost to silence, can never be heard again.

Every year, during the patron saint’s feast of San Isidro Buensuceso, Tlaxcala, the Basarios keep alive a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Through the testimonies of the dancers and documentation of the celebration, this documentary explores the origins, meaning, and continuity of this cultural expression, highlighting its importance as a symbol of the community’s identity.