A young woman becomes obsessed with providing a good life for her mother in Pablo Guillen’s short film, Bajo la Tierra. Our story begins in Alta, California, 1826, where a mother, Josefa (Ivette Gonzalez), and her young daughter, Alma (Allyson Juliette), happily work in their modest garden. Josefa teaches Alma about the importance of the earth, emphasizing how everything comes from the dirt. Alma dreams of caring for her mother and promises to become rich one day by working the land.
Nineteen years later, Alma (Susana Boyce) is now a skilled and driven pottery maker, consumed by her work. She tirelessly works her hands to the bone, determined to fulfill the largest order of pots she’s ever been offered. Worried about her daughter, Josefa heads to town. As the sun sets, Alma worries about her mother and receives that fateful call at the door.
“Alma dreams of caring for her mother and promises to become rich one day by working the land.”
At this point, Bajo la Tierra transforms into a mysterious morality tale reminiscent of The Twilight Zone. Pablo Guillen’s story is about a woman focused on becoming rich and losing sight of what’s important in the here and now. Then, the tale shifts to Alma, determined more than ever to fulfill the promise to her mother. She processes her grief through her work and ends with a mysterious and magical conclusion.
Bajo la Tierra is a beautiful story shot in a beautiful locale. Its poignant story will touch your heart and offer a small reminder to stop and be thankful for what you have. Money and riches rarely bring happiness.
"…a beautiful story shot in a beautiful locale."
