The Tribute

Mercedes, a retired woman, wants to get her tape recorder fixed, but on her way home she runs into her sister, with whom she had lost touch. Carmen reveals that, following their father's death, she had left home out of fear after becoming pregnant. Mercedes comes to realize that the affection she felt for Carmen would have been stronger than her fear.

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?

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.

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.