Top 5 Day of the Dead movies beyond Coco
By Viridiana Marin Marin
It’s time to get you in ‘Día de Muertos’ mood that’s why we gathered the best Day of the dead short films about this Mexican tradition that is going to put you right spirit for this celebration.
People around the world know Mexico for its food, culture, and traditions. Dia de Muertos or Day of the Dead, became popular after the James Bond film Spectre in 2015; the open scenes of the film were enough to inspire the first Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City a year after.
For those that maybe don´t know, the Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November. It is believed that the souls of the deceased loved ones come to visit those days, and people received them by setting up altars at home with their favorite food, flowers, candles, photographs, and pan de muerto. This special celebration brings together Mexicans living in Mexico at the cemeteries and the Mexicans living abroad at different events such as the Day of the Dead, a celebration of life festival in London.
The short film industry has been including the Dia de Muertos as a topic for a very long time in its movies; they are a concentrated piece of storytelling with precise and clear messages. Beyond movies like Coco, which is one of the most popular in this Mexican tradition, short films are other way to enjoy cinema and learn more stories. This format is increasing its online audience thanks to the internet and the different platforms.
Let’s get the spirit of this celebration; put yourself comfortable, make a ‘palomitas’, and call your family and friends to watch the top five Day of the Dead short films beyond Coco.
1. Hasta los huesos (Down to the bone)
This is a short film from 2002 it is Directed by Rene Castillo and is a stop motion movie that tells the story of a man who passed away and arrived to the other side. This man is harrased by a worm that will guide him to a stage where he realises that all people there are dead. This short film has a beautiful performance by ‘La Catrina’ who sings the popular song ‘La Llorona’. This character helps this man to understand his new life.
2. Dia de los muertos (Day of the dead)
This short film got the Student Award Gold medal in 2013. It was produced by the students of the Ringling College of art and design in Florida and tells the story of a little girl that goes to visit the grave of her mother the Day of the Dead. There she is transported to the world of the dead, where she will understand the importance of this day. Even though this story is 3 minutes longer and doesn’t have dialogues, is very touching.
3. Camino Amarillo (Yellow Road)
This short film won the first prize of the PROCINE contest in 2017. Directed by Eduardo Hernandez, this movie tells the story of Ana, a little girl that is lost in a world she doesn’t recognized, she is guided for a yellow road to come back home and see her family again on the day the souls come back among the live ones.
4. Pib
This short film, produced in 2017 by Cine Janal and Directed by Miguel Ventura, shows how a Mayan community gets ready to welcome the souls of their deceased loved ones. It is narrated by the voice over of a little girl speaking Maya and show the images of how the ‘Pib’ is cooked in the Mayan culture. This short film also includes English subtitles.
5. Altar
This short film, directed by Andres Domz, shows one of the most popular traditions of the Day of the Dead, the ‘altar de muertos’, an ofrenda set up in honor to dead people. Based in the belief that the souls of the love ones who have passed away come back to this world on these days, the movie shows how the ‘altar’ is the most important thing in the Day of the Dead celebration. It is a blend of prehispanic and Catholic culture, and contains traditional items that guide souls home.
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