Chrysalis

Inside a dreamlike laboratory, a female alchemist leads to conduct a transmutation experiment on herself: she creates from her skin a woman like her to free herself from the room she is imprisoned in so she can reach the outside world. The new woman born in the laboratory must find its way out, as have made all the women who came before her.

This piece is a tribute to Remedios Varo's work.

  • José Mauricio Aguirre Higuera
    Director
  • José Mauricio Aguirre Higuera
    Writer
  • Marco Arauna Camarena
    Producer
  • Melanie Montalvo
    Key Cast
    "Yellow Woman/Red Woman"
  • Lía Castellanos
    Secondary Characters
    White Pilgrim 1
  • Mixtlan Gómez
    Secondary Characters
    White Pilgrim 2
  • Samantha Coronel
    Secondary Characters
    White Pilgrim 3
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Crisálida
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 34 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    160,000 MXN
  • Country of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Country of Filming:
    Mexico
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Center for Design, Film and Television
Director Biography - José Mauricio Aguirre Higuera

I consider myself a lover of surrealist, dark and experimental art. The cinema of avant-garde and Latin American literature has been my main creative foundation when I make cinema. I like to find new narrative forms in the different media supports -whether it be cinema, painting, photography, music, or video art-; for me, the "how" is the most important thing; expressing ourselves with our voice is what gives us value as artists.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The enigmatic paintings of Remedios Varo have always fascinated me, and this short film is a portal to enter her deep-dreamlike world and to explore the alchemist topics that interested this magnificent artist. Everybody wants to be part of Varo's universe.