Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths

Silverio Gama, a Mexican journalist turned documentary filmmaker, navigates the complexities of his life in Los Angeles with his wife Lucía and teenage son Lorenzo. His latest project, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, is a poignant blend of docufiction and personal narrative, reflecting the introspection that has become increasingly characteristic of his work as he grows older. The loss of their firstborn son Mateo still lingers, leaving Silverio and Lucía stuck in a limbo of grief; they keep Mateo's ashes close, struggling to move forward from their devastating experience.

As Silverio goes about his daily routine, reality becomes intertwined with dreams, memories, and fantasies. His encounter with the US ambassador at Chapultepec Castle, for instance, is accompanied by vivid visions of the 1847 Battle of Chapultepec and the tragic Niños Héroes' suicides. This surreal quality permeates many aspects of his life, underscoring the blurred lines between past and present.

Silverio's world is turned upside down when he learns he will be the first Latin American to receive a prestigious American award for journalism. While he suspects the recognition may be motivated by geopolitical factors – namely, easing tensions between the United States and Mexico in the face of negative perceptions surrounding U.S.–Mexico migration and Amazon's attempts to acquire the Mexican state of Baja California – he cannot help but feel both humbled and anxious about the attention his work will receive. As a result, Silverio cancels an interview on a popular talk show at the last minute, takes time to reminisce about his life as a husband and father, and struggles to strike a balance between critiquing the problems he sees in Mexico's government and defending its people from harmful stereotypes.

Privately, Silverio grapples with feelings of guilt over leaving Mexico behind, knowing that many others are unable to emigrate. This emotional turmoil is further exacerbated by his complicated relationships with his siblings and extended family, whom he barely acknowledges, as well as his adult daughter Camila, whom he showers with attention despite their strained bond.

The evening's celebration in Silverio's honor at a lavish party only adds to the chaos. Reunited with his distant relatives, he is indifferent to their presence, while lavishing attention on Camila. The talk show host's scathing criticism of Silverio's work sparks a heated response from the filmmaker, who takes the opportunity to lash out personally at the host. In a moment of emotional exhaustion, Silverio flees to the restroom, where he imagines reconciliations with his deceased parents.

Upon exiting the bathroom, Silverio is confronted by symbolic representations of Mexico's dark past: hundreds of people, representing those kidnapped or killed by organized crime, collapse in a commercial district, while Hernán Cortés sits atop a pile of corpses in the Zócalo, delivering a stern lecture to Silverio about the indigenous genocide. As he processes these visions, Silverio is forced to confront the painful realities of his homeland's history and his own place within it.

As their vacation in Baja California comes to a close, Silverio and his family are met with a sudden turn of events - the state's acquisition by Amazon. This unexpected twist serves as a catalyst for Camila (Camila) to reconsider her career in Boston, ultimately deciding to uproot herself and return to Mexico, a prospect that Silverio tentatively welcomes. Before departing for Los Angeles, the family takes a poignant moment to scatter Mateo's ashes into the ocean, their actions tinged with a mix of sadness and acceptance.

Upon returning to the United States, they are met with disdain by a Hispanic-American customs official, highlighting the complexities of identity and belonging that pervade the film. Meanwhile, Silverio's thoughts turn to a nostalgic moment from his past - the passing of his beloved pet axolotls - which prompts him to make an impromptu purchase: a trio of these unique creatures as a surprise gift for Camila.

As they ride the L.A. Metro back from the pet store, a familiar scene unfolds, only this time with a jarring twist: Silverio suffers a severe stroke, leaving him unattended on the train for several hours. His prolonged coma serves as a metaphorical purgatory, where his brain replays and reprocesses the events of his life. Camila accepts an award in Silverio's absence, while his loved ones gather at his bedside, sharing stories, songs, and snippets of TV broadcasts that unwittingly influence his dreamscapes.

In the desolate expanse of his subconscious, Silverio finds himself reunited with deceased family members, whom he ignores in favor of projections of his living relatives. A haunting doppelganger appears, mirroring his movements before abandoning him to continue his internal odyssey. The film concludes as it began, with Silverio lost in a fantastical flight through the desert, leaving audiences uncertain about whether he has transcended mortality, reawakened from his coma, or finally found a way to reconcile with the burdens of his past.