2021·Drama·1h 37m
7.0
★
A Mexican biologist living in New York returns to his hometown, nestled in the majestic butterfly forests of Michoacán. The journey forces him to confront past traumas and reflect on his hybrid identity, sparking a personal metamorphosis.
Directed by Alexis Gambis
new york city
mexico
tattoo
laboratory
scientist
family feud
metamorphosis
biologist
mexican
research laboratory
science laboratory
taxonomy
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Tenoch Huerta Mejía
Mendel
Kaarlo Isaacs Barria
Young Mendel
Noé Hernández
Simon
Ignacio Guadalupe
Don Gabino
Alexia Rasmussen
Sarah
Paulina Gaitán
Brisa
Electra Avellan
Lucia
Angelina Peláez
Abuela Rosa
William Mapother
Bob
Angélica Aragón
Dona Lola
Gabino Rodríguez
Vicente
Juan Ramón López
Paco
Crew
Maria Altamirano
Producer
Faride Schroeder
Co-Producer
William Mapother
Co-Executive Producer
Lupita Peckinpah
Costume Design
Popular Reviews
13 reviews
SaraPRO
8.0★ · 06/02/25
had to pause my viewing of this by a few weeks because I couldn’t stop crying. I haven’t seen my family, specifically my living grandparents in over 20 years. que en paz descansé mi papa luis y mi papi chayo.
I’m absolutely blown away by the similarities between this and my Mariposa, from the immigration and cultural metaphor of butterflies, internal struggle, and this being made around the same time I made my short. they’re primos, of course. Stylistically, really close to what a feature length Mariposa would be. Everything that took place in Mexico was absolutely beautiful and familiar.
Strong start but it kind of lost me in the middle and maybe not fully realized. I definitely agree it’s a breath of fresh air to see a brown skinned Mexican man in a role different than what we’re used to. Shout out to my tio Tenoch. I wasn’t the biggest fan of anything that took place in the NYC besides the scientific stuff. Also, upset it made me relive seeing a white significant other stare at you blankly while you try to open up about your traumas.
I’m feeling emotional, but inspired.
I’m absolutely blown away by the similarities between this and my Mariposa, from the immigration and cultural metaphor of butterflies, internal struggle, and this being made around the same time I made my short. they’re primos, of course. Stylistically, really close to what a feature length Mariposa would be. Everything that took place in Mexico was absolutely beautiful and familiar.
Strong start but it kind of lost me in the middle and maybe not fully realized. I definitely agree it’s a breath of fresh air to see a brown skinned Mexican man in a role different than what we’re used to. Shout out to my tio Tenoch. I wasn’t the biggest fan of anything that took place in the NYC besides the scientific stuff. Also, upset it made me relive seeing a white significant other stare at you blankly while you try to open up about your traumas.
I’m feeling emotional, but inspired.
had to pause my viewing of this by a few weeks because I couldn’t stop crying. I haven’t seen my family, specifically my living grandparents in over 20 years. que en paz descansé mi papa luis y mi papi chayo.
I’m absolutely blown away by the similarities between this and my Mariposa, from the immigration and cultural metaphor of butterflies, internal struggle, and this being made around the same time I made my short. they’re primos, of course. Stylistically, really close to what a feature length Mariposa would be. Everything that took place in Mexico was absolutely beautiful and familiar.
Strong start but it kind of lost me in the middle and maybe not fully realized. I definitely agree it’s a breath of fresh air to see a brown skinned Mexican man in a role different than what we’re used to. Shout out to my tio Tenoch. I wasn’t the biggest fan of anything that took place in the NYC besides the scientific stuff. Also, upset it made me relive seeing a white significant other stare at you blankly while you try to open up about your traumas.
I’m feeling emotional, but inspired.
I’m absolutely blown away by the similarities between this and my Mariposa, from the immigration and cultural metaphor of butterflies, internal struggle, and this being made around the same time I made my short. they’re primos, of course. Stylistically, really close to what a feature length Mariposa would be. Everything that took place in Mexico was absolutely beautiful and familiar.
Strong start but it kind of lost me in the middle and maybe not fully realized. I definitely agree it’s a breath of fresh air to see a brown skinned Mexican man in a role different than what we’re used to. Shout out to my tio Tenoch. I wasn’t the biggest fan of anything that took place in the NYC besides the scientific stuff. Also, upset it made me relive seeing a white significant other stare at you blankly while you try to open up about your traumas.
I’m feeling emotional, but inspired.
Travis Martin
8.7★ · 02/03/21
so satisfying when i hear one (1) spanish word that i understand in a movie because then i know that my nine years of spanish have paid off 😎
so satisfying when i hear one (1) spanish word that i understand in a movie because then i know that my nine years of spanish have paid off 😎
Mel RygusPRO
6.8★ · 02/03/21
A meditative magical realism journey that follows Mendel through his childhood in Mexico marred by tragedy, into adulthood as he grapples with his traumatic past while mapping the genes of butterfly wings. Told in two intertwining storylines with vivid cinematography and a captivating lead performance, this was a beautiful hidden gem and a poignant endnote to my first (virtual) Sundance.
A meditative magical realism journey that follows Mendel through his childhood in Mexico marred by tragedy, into adulthood as he grapples with his traumatic past while mapping the genes of butterfly wings. Told in two intertwining storylines with vivid cinematography and a captivating lead performance, this was a beautiful hidden gem and a poignant endnote to my first (virtual) Sundance.
Kelly
6.0★ · 01/29/21
3/4
My first Sundance movie! The performances were really great and it was shot beautifully. I loved the moments of magical realism and the dream sequences especially. I just wish the story was more cohesive. And I felt like the film ended before we truly got to see Mendel’s “metamorphosis”. I felt like it cut off before the emotional narrative was fully complete. But overall this was a good film and I’d like to see more Latinx stories on the big screen.
My first Sundance movie! The performances were really great and it was shot beautifully. I loved the moments of magical realism and the dream sequences especially. I just wish the story was more cohesive. And I felt like the film ended before we truly got to see Mendel’s “metamorphosis”. I felt like it cut off before the emotional narrative was fully complete. But overall this was a good film and I’d like to see more Latinx stories on the big screen.
3/4
My first Sundance movie! The performances were really great and it was shot beautifully. I loved the moments of magical realism and the dream sequences especially. I just wish the story was more cohesive. And I felt like the film ended before we truly got to see Mendel’s “metamorphosis”. I felt like it cut off before the emotional narrative was fully complete. But overall this was a good film and I’d like to see more Latinx stories on the big screen.
My first Sundance movie! The performances were really great and it was shot beautifully. I loved the moments of magical realism and the dream sequences especially. I just wish the story was more cohesive. And I felt like the film ended before we truly got to see Mendel’s “metamorphosis”. I felt like it cut off before the emotional narrative was fully complete. But overall this was a good film and I’d like to see more Latinx stories on the big screen.
Pau Lazaro
5.0★ · 01/29/21
A little slow but solid cinematography👌💙💫
A little slow but solid cinematography👌💙💫