For Diego, life is easygoing, full of circus tricks and marijuana, while he works by day at a surf shop along a stretch of tourist beaches in Mexico. When his grandmother América falls from her bed, Diego’s father is jailed for elder neglect and Diego moves home to Colima to assume responsibility for her care with his two brothers, Rodrigo and Bruno. This unexpected time together is at once challenging and essential for a family whose members have been separated for some time. Lucid and meditative, the film beautifully balances scenes of the intimate relationship between generations of family with the less pleasant realities of dementia. Diego and his brothers flit from playfulness to scorn as they learn to adapt to a lifestyle none of the family asked for, least of all América. With charm and humor, the brothers remain genuine and loving in their interactions with their grandmother—a woman without whom they would not exist.  KR

Q&A following screening