Finlandia

Why will your students love Finlandia? Because it’s a work of art in itself—a vibrant visual poem—it invites you on an intimate journey to reflect on what it means to be a Muxe or Muxhe, Zapotec Indigenous third-gender individuals who have existed in southern Mexico for centuries. Muxes last gained international recognition for their crucial role in rescue efforts following the 2017 Juchitán earthquake. Because of the machista culture in Mexico, Muxes are often seen in caregiver roles and are respected for their work as well as their identity.

Belonging to a community of muxes fighting to reclaim their gender beyond the binary spectrum, Delirio, Amaranta, and Mariano go through their past, present, and future.

Marta, a designer, embarks on a journey to Oaxaca to document its rich traditions. As she navigates the fine line between admiration and cultural appropriation, her perception of reality—and herself—begins to shift. Living among the muxes, she is drawn to their struggles, passions, and unspoken traumas. Immersed in their world, Marta must confront her assumptions, desires, and a deeper meaning of belonging.

When a powerful earthquake shatters their world, they must confront not just the physical destruction, but also the deeper tremors of identity, resilience, and self-expression in a society that both reveres and resists them.

A visually stunning and deeply moving exploration of love, struggle, and the defiant beauty of being oneself, Finlandia is a cinematic ode to the strength of those who dare to live authentically.

Advisory: contains sexual content