Private Project

The Chant of the Dead

In a vast desert, Paloma walks alone, searching for her missing daughter. On the other side of the desert, César, a member of organized crime, awaits a visitor. As night falls, both of them hear the chant of the dead.

  • Balbina Lozano Castaño
    Director
    Melocactus
  • Balbina Lozano Castaño
    Writer
  • Reyna Almeida Cota
    Producer
  • José Alberto Rodríguez
    Key Cast
    "César"
    La Pinta
  • Mónica Muruato
    Key Cast
    "Paloma"
    Somos Invisibles
  • Mauro "El Bebo" Cantú
    Key Cast
    "El Pozolero"
    El norte sobre el vacío
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    ¿Qué cantan los muertos?
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 14, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 MXN
  • Country of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Country of Filming:
    Mexico
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Institute of Technology and Higher Education of Monterrey
Director Biography - Balbina Lozano Castaño

Currently, a student of Communications at Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Balbina Lozano Castaño has directed several film projects, with notable works including "Melocactus" (2022), a short film that received an honorable mention at the National Film Festival of Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. The film was also part of the official selection at the International Festival Boca do Inferno in Brazil.

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Director Statement

"The chant of the dead" is a suspenseful drama short film that aims to portray the harsh reality that exists in Mexico. Using magical realism and fiction, it gives voice to both the deceased and the countless missing people in the country. Paloma is a searching mother in pursuit of her daughter, while on the other side of the plain, César is compelled to fulfill his duties. The dead plead not to be silenced or forgotten. The short film seeks to emphasize the importance of not forgetting those who have disappeared while staying rooted in the grim reality of Mexico. It portrays an impotent reality where the crisis consumes the individual.