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A WALTZ ABOUT MÓNICA

For fifty years, every ten minutes, a small ferry has crossed the Valsequillo Lagoon, connecting San Baltazar with Los Ángeles, Tetela. Today, despite an unprecedented drought and the lagoon's pollution, the Mónica II keeps these two communities afloat.

For almost fifty years, every ten minutes, a small ferry has crossed the Valsequillo Lagoon, the largest body of water in Puebla and surrounding regions. Today, when the drought has evaporated this artificial reservoir to unprecedented levels, the Mónica II, also known as the Panga, floats among the water hyacinths and mud.

In this film, we accompany its crew on a journey of tiny crossings, portraying this vessel—a product of both ingenuity and community persistence—up close and playfully.

  • Alex Moreno-Novelo
    Director
    AYOTZINAPA 26, BASTIDORES, YO TE ENCUENTRO
  • Alex Moreno-Novelo
    Writer
    AYOTZINAPA 26, BASTIDORES, YO TE ENCUENTRO
  • Mariana Flores
    Producer
    LOLO (producer), UN VALS SOBRE MÓNICA (producer-director)
  • Alex Moreno-Novelo
    Producer
    AYOTZINAPA 26, BASTIDORES, YO TE ENCUENTRO
  • Diana Ibargüen
    Producer
    #RATS (production design), LA NOCHE BLANCA (p.d.)
  • Alberto Molero
    DOP
  • Mario Maya
    Editor
  • Luz Sánchez
    COLOR CORRECTION & POST
    LA PROMESA, MÉXICO BÁRBARO
  • Maribel Roldán
    ON SET SOUND MIXERS
  • José Cortazar
    ON SET SOUND MIXERS
  • Hageo Treviño
    SOUND MIX
  • Ricardo Zepeda
    MUSIC
  • MARIANA FLORES CASTILLO
    EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
  • Edgar "Galo" Amateco
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Facundo Morales
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Eduardo Sánchez
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Gabriel "Vaquero" Paz
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • J. Roberto Meneses
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • J. Sebastián Vásquez
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Don Fausto
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Rogelio Meneses
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • El Nieves
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Jose Luis García A.
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Miguel Sánchez G.
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Melissa Morales
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Omar Vargas
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Ma. del Rosario Amateco
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Ma. del Carmen Santel
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • María Eugenia Hernández
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Adela Pasilla
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Paulina I. Morales
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Daniel "El tío Siete" Corona
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Don Francisco "El tío Lobo"
    PARTICIPANTS / TESTIMONIES
  • Alex Moreno-Novelo
    Design & Poster
  • Dante Reyes
    Design & Poster
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    UN VALS SOBRE MÓNICA
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Movility, Human Rights, Environment, Community Portrait, Documental, Creative documentary, Equality
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Country of Filming:
    Mexico
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    4K HDR
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • IMAGENIAmx
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Alex Moreno-Novelo

Film writer, director and developer. He graduated from ENAC-UNAM, Mexico; specialized in script and development at EICTV, Cuba; and in documentary filmmaking at FilmArt Centre, Serbia.

He has produced award-winning short films (San Sebastián, ShortsMx); and directed short films awarded at FICUNAM and DocsPuebla.

He manages PERIFERIA Acervo Comunitario Audiovisual, an initiative to create audiences and create audiovisual projects about the present and memory in Puebla, México and beyond.

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Director Statement

This documentary is just a celebration of the continuous effort of people like Edgar, the captain of the crew, the community committee and the population around the panga, who despite everything manage to keep this floating bridge going.

Monica and her community don't need to be rescued; San Baltazar Tetela, Buena Vista Tetela and Los Ángeles Tetela do not need to be rescued. They already have many heroes and heroines working there. What they need is what is owed to them, what they deserved many years ago.