Ways To Traverse A Territory (Formas de atravesar un territorio)
Ajyal Competition
Gabriela Domínguez Ruvalcaba / Feature Documentary / Mexico / 2024 / 73 min / Colour
In Spanish, Tsotsil / English subtitles
Interests: Documentary
MENA Premiere
Rated: Mature subject matter. Not suitable for minors. Individuals under the age of 18 are not admitted into cinemas.
Synopsis
In the remote highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, indigenous Tsotsil women shepherd their sheep and weave wool, preserving traditions that have been passed down for generations. Their connection to the land is sacred, and through their work, they honour the memory and history of their ancestors. This documentary follows their daily lives, revealing how their identity and cultural heritage are deeply tied to the territory they inhabit. The filmmaker’s journey to the mountains opens up a dialogue about what it means to belong to a place.
By observing the Tsotsil women and reflecting on her own memories tied to the land, the film explores how personal and collective identities are shaped by our connection to the environment. The documentary combines archival footage, staged moments, and intimate conversations to create a poetic meditation on cultural preservation, the passage of time, and the transformation of landscapes. Through its stunning visuals and contemplative tone, ‘Ways to Traverse a Territory’ examines the relationship between people and the land they call home, offering a rich reflection on memory, identity, and the enduring ties that bind us to our environments.
About the Directors
Gabriela Domínguez Ruvalcaba is a Mexican filmmaker and editor whose work spans documentary and film essay forms. Her debut feature, ‘La Danza del Hipocampo’, won several prestigious awards, including Best Documentary at the Monterrey International Film Festival and the Jury Mention at FICM Morelia. A graduate of the Autonomous University of Barcelona and EICTV in Cuba, she explores themes of identity, memory, and the environment. ‘Ways to Traverse a Territory’, her second feature, premiered at Locarno and FICUNAM 2024, continuing her exploration of cultural preservation and the human connection to the natural world.
Credits
- Director
- Gabriela Domínguez Ruvalcaba
- Screenwriter
- Gabriela Domínguez Ruvalcaba
- Producer
- Pía Quintana Enciso
- Cinematographer
- Natali Montell
- Editor
- Dalia Huerta Cano, Gabriela Dominguez Ruvalcaba
- Sound
- Emma Viviana González, Christian Giraud (sound design)
- Music
- Arcadio M. Lanz
- Cast
- Sebastiana Hernández Maribel Pérez Hernández Margarita Pérez Hernández Rosalinda Pérez Hernández Angelina Pérez Hernández Ranger Don Manuelito Hernández Gómez Women weavers from Bautista Chico (SbaVitsTik)