A short film by Patricia Montoya
an agitated wind
Based on poems by Gloria Anzaldúa
“Dear Patricia Montoya,
... we wanted to share with you some of the elements from your film that overwhelmed and captivated us: This narrative structure, bridging past and present, vividly captures the enduring impact of these traumatic experiences on someone. The use of marionettes and stuffed animal toys adds a layer of surrealism, emphasizing the innocence of the young protagonist and the stark contrast with the violence she witnesses.
On behalf of our screening and programming team, we wish to extend our congratulations to you and your entire team once more, and celebrate your creation by sharing these reflections we had from your incredibly artistic project.
Do not forget to submit your next film with the full waiver code we have sent. We would be thrilled to continue following your artistic journey!
Best wishes.
VENEZIA SHORTS ITALY ”
The Film
An agitated wind / Un agitado viento (25min, English and Spanish subtitles, Mexico, 2024) fuses elements of live action narrative, marionettes, stuffed animal toys shot in theatrical settings, and bilingual speech, to depict a series of poems by the chicana writer and cultural critic, Gloria Anzaldúa (1942-2004).
The film portrays incidents of racist and sexist violence perpetrated against and within a chicano family in the in the US/Mexico border region of South Texas in the 1950’s witnessed by a young chicana girl and recounted by a fictionalized Gloria Anzaldúa writing a draft of the poems in Montpelier, Vermont, in the early 1980’s.
In An agitated wind / Un agitado viento, the US/Mexico border is represented out of place, as if fantasy is more real than the reality. Vignettes with intensifying violence are broken up by animations of wooden birds flying in a blue sky and wooden toys and stuffed animals in theatrical settings, to create affirmations of creativity, imagination and play. Through these intersected story telling forms, I would like to share with my audience an exaltation of beauty and connection despite horrors of a lived experience.
The Trailer
Official Trailer ( Fawn / Venadita)
Trailer (Horse /Caballo)
The Statement
In my films, I draw on the impermanence of home, my queer and bi-national identity (Colombia and the United States) to create films that tell stories of migration, not only as an experience of displacement, but also of wisdom and resilience.
My films are lyrical explorations of text, dialogue, theatrical adaptations, and the depiction of intimate human relations within the context of geographical landscapes. It is with a connection to the land, and the way human and physical geography shapes our destinies that I am approaching Gloria Anzaldúa's work. I’m inspired by the way Gloria Anzaldúa transcends the limitations of geography and landscape to include spirituality, social justice, healing, and the complexities of the creative process.
The Stills
The Poster:
Design: Alejandra Carmona
The Set
The Cast / Talento
Principals / Principales
VICO HERNANDEZ / RUBI TERRAZO / EMMANUEL VEGA / MARIA ELENA BAÑUELOS / LYLIA CIRIAM / CHRISTOPHER NIEBLA / JOSÉ CARLOS FLORES / IVANA GAMBOA / MIGUEL GONZÁLEZ / REMY PONCE / ALEX MONTALVO / FELIPE TUTUTI / ALBERTO ALARCÓN / YERAI ALBELDA / BLAKE SELTZER / ROBERT KELLER
ADR/V.O: DIANA ALVAREZ / LUCA LYONS-SOSA / MARU CAZAS
Extras
ANDREA GARCIA, OLIVIA MIRANDA, JOSE LUIS POMPA, ALDO REYNOSO, ALAIN REYNOSO
*To see the names on the photos please use your phone on landscape mode.
The Team
Santiago Madera
Producer
Santiago Madera is an independent producer based in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Currently, Santiago is producing the feature length documentary El Sastre de La Muerte (Death’s tailor, 2022), with a competitive production grant from IMCINE (Mexican Institute of Cinematography). Santiago Madera has produced several commercials, music videos and the short films including my short, When La Rumorosa Quiets (2020), he also holds several credits in the art department in productions from renown Mexican productions.
Patricia Montoya
Director
I’m a Colombian filmmaker living in Northampton, Massachusetts, winner of competitive grants, fellowships and artist residencies in the United States. I have created a portfolio of work produced in the US/Mexico border that include my most recent film, Cuando La Rumorosa Calla (When La Rumorosa Quiets, 17min, Mexico 2020, In Spanish with English subtitles). Cuando La Rumorosa Calla, has won several awards and honorable mentions in Latin America, India, Europe, and the United States.
“I’m on a quest to tell stories that matter.”
Direction and Script PATRICIA MONTOYA
Production SANTIAGO MADERA
Director of Photography JULIAN FELIPE GONZALEZ SANCHEZ / Steady Cam JAVIER GONZALEZ / Executive Producer PATRICIA MONTOYA / Casting ADOLFO MADERA, ISAAC BRONW / Editor ALFREDO G. UNIBE / Post Production FERNANDO GUZMAN, ALECK GUZMAN / Color Correction and VFX FERNANDO GUZMAN / Sound Design TONALLI MAGAÑA / Direct Sound RICARDO CARREÑO / Art Direction CLAUDIA RODRIGUEZ
Wooden Horse Maker KURT MEYER / Wooden Bird Maker SANTIAGO MADERA / Stuffed Animals NATALIA FERNANDEZ “FAWA” / HECTOR MADERA LOZANO / Motion Graphics DAVID NEWLAND
Production Manager NELY LUNA / First Assistant Director ORLANDO CORNEJO / Continuity ILLYANA JIMENEZ
With the generous and sustaining support of a community made of family, friends, friends of friends, and the following awards, fellowships, grants and artist residencies:
Tax-deductible donations through the artist-run organization Fractured Atlas