Al Otro Lado

About

Al Otro Lado weaves together three stories of childhood, separation, and migration, following young protagonists in Mexico, Cuba, and Morocco whose lives are shaped by the absence of their fathers. In rural Mexico, nine-year-old Prisciliano struggles to understand why his father has left for the United States in search of work. Feeling the weight of new responsibilities within his family, he longs for his father’s return and struggles to reconcile his childhood needs with the hardships confronting those he loves. In Havana, Ángel, a Cuban boy who has never known his father, embarks on a perilous journey toward Florida with his friend Walter, hoping to reach a place where a different future might be possible. Their attempt to cross the sea exposes the boys to the dangers and uncertainties faced by those who risk their lives in pursuit of a better life. Meanwhile, in Morocco, young Fátima leaves home in search of her father, who works in Spain. Her journey brings her into contact with human traffickers, placing her in grave danger before an unexpected encounter offers her a chance of finding him. Although separated by geography, culture, and circumstance, the three children share a common longing for family reunification. Their stories illuminate the emotional consequences of migration for those who leave as well as those left behind, presenting childhood as a space where hope persists despite poverty, separation, and uncertainty. The film was selected as Mexico’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 78th Academy Awards.

Comments

Log in to join the conversation.

No comments yet — be the first.