Ixcanul 2016

On the cinder-covered slopes of a majestic volcano, where the air is thick with tradition and the scent of freshly harvested coffee, Maria’s world revolves around her quaint village. The Mayan culture blends seamlessly with Catholicism, as the villagers pay homage to both the Christian deity and the mystical goddess believed to reside within the volcano’s fiery core. For Maria, life has always been confined to these slopes, where her family cultivates the prized crop alongside their neighbors. Her fate is predetermined, as she’s been promised to Ignacio, the plantation’s foreman, in an arranged marriage that will bind her to this land forever.

However, Maria’s heart beats for another – Pepe, a charismatic young man with a taste for adventure and a longing to escape the village’s boundaries. His tales of America paint a vivid picture: a land of boundless opportunity, where prosperity is not just a dream, but a reality that whispers sweet nothings in the ears of its inhabitants. The promise of a life free from Guatemala’s economic shackles tantalizes Maria, and she begs Pepe to take her with him when he departs for the United States.

But the plantation holds secrets of its own – hidden dangers lurk beneath the surface, as venomous snakes slither through the fields, threatening the very livelihoods of Maria and her family. Ignacio’s absence provides a fleeting respite, allowing him to seal his marriage vows with Maria upon his return. Meanwhile, Maria’s curiosity about the mysteries of the human experience begins to stir, fueled by the intoxicating nectar of an ancient tree and the thrill of a solitary indulgence against its gnarled trunk.

As the seasons change, so do Maria’s desires. Her chance encounter with Pepe, fortified by shared libations at the makeshift bar that serves the plantation workers, sparks a forbidden passion. But their tryst is short-lived, as reality sets in – and with it, the consequences of Maria’s actions. The result of her dalliance with Pepe is a life-altering development: pregnancy. As the truth begins to unravel, Pepe’s promises of taking Maria with him to America prove hollow, leaving her to confront the harsh realities of her situation.

As Maria’s secret pregnancy becomes public knowledge, her parents’ ire is palpable. They threaten that Ignacio will have them forcibly evicted from their home if they don’t take drastic measures. Maria’s mother, Juana, resorts to ancient folk remedies in a desperate bid to terminate the pregnancy, but none of these efforts yield the desired outcome, leading her to conclude that the child was always meant to be born. Meanwhile, Maria posits that if the snakes plaguing their field are driven away, a new crop of coffee will be planted, ensuring the labor of her parents and thereby preventing eviction. In a bold move, she and Juana set fire to the field, only for the snakes to return with renewed ferocity.

Juana shares an ancient Mayan wisdom with Maria, revealing that pregnancy imbues her with a mystical “light” capable of chasing away the snakes as her body becomes a metaphorical volcano. Convinced that this inner light will banish the serpents, Maria seeks out a revered Mayan shaman who performs a sacred ceremony to stoke the flames within her. Despite Juana’s cautionary words about not all magic being real, Maria is undeterred and attempts to harness her newfound powers by walking across the snake-infested field. Tragically, this bold move results in Maria’s bite wound and a subsequent trip to the hospital in the nearby city.

Upon arrival at the hospital, Maria finds herself lost in translation as the Spanish-speaking staff struggle to comprehend Kaqchikel, their native language. As she navigates the unfamiliar medical environment, Maria is met with devastating news: her baby has perished. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Maria and her family return home, bearing a coffin that holds a painful secret.

When they arrive at the hospital to report the missing child, Maria and her family are instead met with skepticism from Spanish-speaking police officers who fail to understand Kaqchikel. These authorities advise the family not to file a complaint, citing them as prime suspects in the case. As Maria’s world crumbles around her, she is resigned to marry Ignacio, donning traditional Mayan attire as she prepares for this new chapter in her life.