Mom

Mexican filmmaker Xun Sero grew up without a father, and he long resented his mother Hilda for that fact. As an adult, he finally enters into a dialogue with Hilda. In Mom, he follows her daily life within the Tzotzil community to which she belongs. He asks the questions that have long remained unasked, and she talks candidly about the obstacles she has had to overcome.

Gradually, the picture emerges of a violent society, in which women bear the heaviest burden and have the fewest opportunities. On the street, the camera records the young Tzotzil women of today: working, caring, waiting. Nevertheless, Hilda has managed to break free from this toxic legacy and become a respected member of her community. Surrounded by strong and loving women, she has at least managed to make a success of her working life. As she explains it, “Women with tempers are the only ones who get ahead.”

Nominated for IDFA Award for Best First Feature