I Dream in Another Language

I Dream in Another Language is a 2017 Mexican drama film directed by Ernesto Contreras. It was screened in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. The film's theme revolves around the conservation of indigenous language and culture– it's a part of a larger movement of Latin-American films that feature indigenous languages in order to give a voice to those historically silenced. Plot The story follows Martin, a linguist who travels to the rainforest of Veracruz, Mexico to try to record and understand Zikril, a fictional indigenous language that is dying in the region. However, upon arriving in the village where he will live for months he discovers that Isauro and Evaristo, the last two speakers of Zikril, have refused to speak to each other for the last 50 years because of a longstanding grudge. Stories from the rest of the villagers imply that the fight was over their mutual love of Evaristo’s late wife. Inspiration for this story came from Contreras' grandmother, who spoke the indigenous language of Zapoteco. Because of the urgency of the project and Isauro’s declining health, Martin tries his best to settle the feud between these two childhood friends. He enlists the help of Evaristo’s granddaughter and the two build a strong relationship. It is revealed through flashbacks that the real fuel behind their hatred is their forbidden love for each other– which was considered taboo and sinful at the time, and the two resented each other for that. After Isauro's passing, Evaristo travels to The Encanto, where the Zikril peoples go to rest, to apologize and mourn his lost lover. In a surprising turn of events, Isauro replies and the two finally reunite in the afterlife. Although the language dies along with its last two native speakers, the linguist, Martin has gained an understanding of the intricacies and beauties of its history.