A blinding sun, withered leaves, empty water pipes: in the dreamlike Árido (1993), not a word is spoken, but the visual language speaks volumes. The residents of Mexico City are desperate for rain. The question is whether the relief it will bring will arrive in time for everyone.
Amid the scorching concrete of an apartment complex, we see children playing with an empty bathtub and adults gazing expectantly at the sky. The only person who looks genuinely worried is a girl carrying around a last little bit of water in a glass. It contains a goldfish, which is still swimming, but the water is evaporating fast.
Director Tatiana Huezo’s inspired oeuvre began with this short film, which she made in her twenties at the film school in Mexico City. Huezo’s symbolism and ominous soundscape leave no doubt about her concerned and critical view of humanity and the climate. More than 30 years later, her message has never been more relevant.
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