The Water’s Whisper

I was filming a documentary at dawn within the lonely waters of Xochimilco lake when I heard a story told by the rower who was guiding us through the darkest places of the canals in the trajinera boat: his uncle sword to had been called by a mermaid in the same place, where after a while, he died drowned. Since then, the image of that fantastic creature followed me everywhere.

After an extended ramble in the topic I was able to understand why the fish-women attracted me deeply, just as Ulysses tied to the mast debating between the contemplation and fear, those same creatures turn to be disturbingly ambiguous, irresistibly charming and at the same time, repulsive and lethal. But, what was that thing that ultimately seemed to be tragic and sinister for me?

Inside an intimate pursuit that led me to find my origin and self memories in the water bodies of Chiapas, I discovered a 13th-year-old teenager: Uriel, who lived with his overprotective mother and her premature sister, abandoned by their father who left with another woman. I accompanied Uriel for a while at the silent and awkward exploration of his sexuality and pleasure, trying to get deep into those darkened aspects that live inside of our own human nature.