The Echo

In the opening sequence of The Echo, a young mother, accompanied by her children, rushes across a dense and uneven meadow to rescue a sheep that has fallen into a water hole. Nature seems to offer them a setting that is both hostile and benevolent, as if it were giving them the strength needed for their actions. This scene establishes the strong relationship between the children, the parents, the animals and the earth that is the focus for the film. Here, in this modest Mexican community, children grow up faster than elsewhere; they are educated by the women and are conscious of the care they must give to the elderly, animals and the environment. This is an extraordinarily simple way of life whose luminosity is captured by a sensitive cinematography that reveals the organic links between all those who live there. With The Echo, Tatiana Huezo (Atelier VdR 2021) has delivered one of her most subtle and accomplished films. The industry has recognised this, awarding her both the Best Director and Best Documentary accolades at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival.

Madeline Robert