Land and Shade 2016

Alfonso, an aging farmer, embarks on a poignant journey back to his roots after a 17-year absence, motivated by the desperate need to care for his only son, who is gravely ill. Upon his return, he is met with a harsh reality: the landscapes he once cherished have been ravaged by sugarcane monoculture, leaving a trail of devastation across the region’s farms. The only familiar sight is his humble white house, accompanied by a solitary bench nestled beneath the sprawling branches of an ancient saman tree. Yet, the warmth of home is overshadowed by a brutal truth—Alfonso is a stranger in his own land, for his family had long ceased to wait for his return.

His reappearance stirs deep-seated emotions in Alicia, his ex-wife, who has stubbornly clung to her ancestral property despite the lurking menace that haunts the vast and dangerous sugarcane fields. The whispers of destruction echo through this labyrinth, bringing forth old flames of passion and resentment. As Alfonso begins to understand the precarious position of his family, he is thrust into a race against time to forge meaningful connections before devastation strikes. His quest for safety compels him to confront and potentially eradicate remnants of his own existence.

The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of memory, identity, and the fragility of life, all teetering on the brink of oblivion due to a paradoxical notion of progress. Ultimately, it will take a significant sacrifice for Alfonso and his loved ones to find a path to redemption and a chance to rebuild their lives away from the shadows of despair that have clouded their home.