Carmin Tropical

This mesmerizing mystery delves deep into the heart, mind, and soul of Mabel, a Mexican muxe (transwoman) who revives past demons when she comes face to face with the people, places, and memories of a faraway life. After learning that her dear friend Daniela has suddenly died, Mabel travels back to her hometown of Juchitán only to discover that everything is both the same and different at once. As she cautiously navigates her old haunting grounds, we learn more about the life she left behind and the senseless violence that reigns in all areas of her former home. She soon finds herself immersed in a tale of crime and passion that reveals shocking moments of emotional turmoil and unadulterated truth.

From the opening frame, filmmaker Rigoberto Pérezcano creates a vivid and decidedly human vision of a wicked world in which it’s hard to know who to trust and what will happen next. The film’s spellbinding tone and urgent energy generate a tense, complex noir atmosphere as a variety of distinctive characters deal with questions about tolerance and the value of identity. Part psychological thriller, part personal love story, Carmín Tropical is a layered exploration of gender and culture in a familiar world turned upside down.

— Brendan Peterson

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