Albertina and the Dead

San Miguel is a village built over indigenous tombs and Albertina (78) is its spiritual leader. She is in charge of communicating with the Ño, a deity whose physical form is a rag doll, which the inhabitants worship during carnival week. The old woman organizes the rituals in his honor with the help of her family and neighbors.

With this premise, César Borie captures the attention of everyone in a documentary that seems more like a mystery film. In several interviews, the main character tells the story of her life, full of magic, significant vulnerability, and a speech of empowerment worthy of any woman who knows she is a leader. While Albertina delivers her personal experience with this magical entity, Ño, her daughters, grandchildren, and neighbors tell how it is to live and witness this tradition, and at the same time reflect on their own beliefs and faith in what their beloved matriarch has told them for years.

However, the protagonist’s old age hides the uncertainty of what will happen to these traditions at the moment of her death.