There is a powerful connection between the grandmothers' and granddaughters' generations, despite the decades of distance that separate them. Perhaps it is because grandmothers do not feel the oppressive responsibility of raising their granddaughters "well" and the latter choose to support them in their dreams, or perhaps it is because a young woman is fascinated by the stories of older people that stimulate her imagination to question the lifestyle of other times; whatever the cause, the link is undeniable and is so strong that it can be felt in the air.
The intergenerational female connection within the context of a spiritual retreat is the setting in which Daniela Alatorre's first documentary takes place. It tells the story of Perla and her mother and Marina, her grandmother, who embark on a retreat within Atotonilco where they discover that by creating a massive community among women, the support and drive generated will propel them from that moment on.
Themes such as reflection on the lifestyles women had in the past compared to today, and spirituality and female support are explored in this sensitive project.
Despite their generational differences, both Perla's mother and grandmother decide to support her in her dreams of leaving home and pursuing a university degree. Such an undertaking has a powerful motivation because it is not only Perla who is being "liberated" but the good wishes of the two most important women in her life are placed on her.
The audiovisual material will help you rethink the meaning of being a woman and the many ways of living it, and a bridge that will connect you with your ancestors who have inherited their energy to achieve what you most desire. It is to withdraw from society, from what a woman is supposed to be and fulfill in order to get closer to your true self, to what your essence truly is.
“Retiro” will be screened outdoors on May 28 at 8 p.m. in a free screening at the Compartimento Cinematográfico within Mezcal Art and will feature the creatives without whom the project would not have been possible, its director Daniela Alatorre, and its protagonist Perla Ávila.
