About Untraceable
The beginning...
I was aware of the migrant situation way before arriving in Tucson. I made a lot of research about the construction of the wall for my own knowledge and for my studies of history of art and geography.
Installation by JR, giant photograph of "Kikito", Mexican child looking over the wall.
The only idea of building a wall was just unbelievable for me. But sadly, it is real. People actually separate two lands. What a strong move. I still don't get it and will never get it.
I started to write the short film in Cavaillon in the South of France in 2020. At this time, I didn't know that I will, one day, shot my film.
I was also inspired by the current situation of migrants in the North of France who try to cross la Manche to reach the United Kingdom. I am living in Lille since I'm a little girl and has always heard about la Jungle de Calais and the poor people who try to survive over there.
When I arrived in the US, I started to volunteer to help a non profit organization to change the law and help migrant to have access to free lawyer to defend their rights.
I still had this idea of a short film to express how I feel towards this situation.
The project was first linked to the organisation but my project was too fictional and poetic for them and i finally had to do it as a personal project.
It was for the best because I never had the intention to do a documentary. I just wanted to express a recognition towards those people who are crossing illegally the border. I also wanted to makes the audience feel how I imagine it feels when you lost someone, without any explanations, without any body, anything.
I don't pretend to know how does it feel. No one can imagine.
But I wanted to share my vision of this critical situation in a more loving and open way than just as a documentary showing dead bodies.
The shoot...
I found my actors thanks to the casting call poster that I shared everywhere in Tucson, in Theater school and cinema school.
Ray Cuevas (Luis) : I decided to apply for the casting call for the short film because I felt like it was a story that needs to be told. I believe that not many people outside of the Latinox culture know about the true dangers and struggles that come with coming to America for immigrants.
Oscar De La Rocha (Juan) : I decided to apply for the role because of my deep familiarly with the circumstances of the story. While I don’t have any direct family members that have had to cross the border in this detrimental way, I’ve met people who have, unfortunately. These people were always after improving their situations back home, and the only solution was to leave in any way possible. You know their situation was bad when they’ve had to risk their lives simply for the hope of a better life elsewhere.
My crew was composed by students of the University of Arizona who helped me after I helped them on they own school project.
My friends where also present to help me as PA and still photographer.
I also had the chance to have my dear friend Dina near me to help with actor's direction.
We shot during one day, in Gates Pass trail. It was intense but we did it!
Pictures credit :Tori Garret
The projection...
I did the sound and image editing by my self so it took a long long time to finish the final version of the film.
Sadly, I wasn't able to show it in the US.
But, I had the incredible honor to be bale to present my film at the 19ème rencontres cinématographiques de Cavaillon in the south of France.
Thank you so much to Eric Tellène to allow me to present this very special project in a cinema.
