In the town of Xoco, the spirit of an old villager awakens in search of its lost home. Along its journey, the ghost discovers that the town still celebrates its most important festivities, but also learns that the construction of a new commercial complex called Mítikah will threaten the existence of both the traditions and the town itself.
LANGUAGE : Spanish COUNTRY : Mexico YEAR : 2024 DURATION : 12m DIRECTOR, SCREENWRITER, PRODUCER : Patricio Escartín DOP : Berenice Moreno EDITOR : Luis Sánchez SOUND DESIGN : Daniel Alejandro PRODUCTION DESIGN : Xánath Rojas MUSIC : Daniel Prieto CAST : Alfonso Estrada
Director statement :The Noise of Time stems from my desire to explore the emotional state of someone who has lost almost everything they once knew and considered to be their life. Yet despite such a loss, this person comes to realize that the meaning of life lies in those moments tied to family, to the everyday, to the things that, in one way or another, connect them to home. Long before I even knew who my protagonists would be, I was certain of one thing: I wanted to make a documentary capable of immersing the viewer in an emotional state that would move them. I believe that cinema which does not move us or shake us to our core lacks the transformative power that every work of art must have, where its audience, after experiencing it, cannot remain indifferent.
The conflict between Mítikah and Xoco represents, to me, a clear example of what’s happening nationwide with our past, with our traditions. Mítikah boasts a supposed “Mexicanness” by referencing pre-Hispanic cultures through its murals and sculptures, yet it disregards those who came first. It has no shame in having cut down over 80 trees along Real Mayorazgo, only to replace them with artificial trees that now decorate the interior of the mall. Little by little, it drives out the original inhabitants of Xoco, through problems like water shortages and gentrification. In the end, I couldn’t ignore such a major conflict and yet, it’s surprising how many people are unaware of the issue simply due to ignorance.
Bio : Patricio Escartín is a filmmaker who graduated from the Bachelor’s in Cinematography at the National School of Cinematographic Arts (ENAC-UNAM) in Mexico, with an academic exchange at the University of Essex, UK. His documentary The Noise of Time (2024) has been officially selected at over 40 international film festivals and showcases, and was recognized by the Mexican journal El Universal as part of “The Best of Mexican Cinema 2024.
Pebbles Underground is focused on showcasing and promoting experimental, avant-garde, underground, and no-to-low budget projects by artist-humans from all over the world. Absurd, uncanny, witty, humorous, slow-video – all are welcomed, and loved.
Pebbles Underground is an independent project not funded by any government or corporation, and we intend to keep it that way. Main source of funding is personal donations from humans organizing the project, who are artists themselves, and the main drive of the project is formed by the energy and involvement of the organizers, and the public.
