Diego Luna presents migration drama ‘Ceniza en la boca’ at San Sebastián Film Festival

Mexican director and actor Diego Luna has presented his new film, ‘Ceniza en la boca’, at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. The drama, which adapts Brenda Navarro’s 2022 novel, explores the complexities of migration through the story of two Mexican siblings traveling to Spain to reunite with their mother.

Set in locations including Madrid and Barcelona, the film examines the tension between a mother’s perceived sacrifice and her children’s sense of abandonment. Luna noted that while much discourse regarding Latin American migration focuses on the movement toward the United States, his film highlights the significant contemporary trend of migration toward Spain, influenced by violence and political shifts in Mexico.

Luna expressed that cinema serves as an antidote to ignorance and hate, aiming to foster empathy toward the challenges faced by migrants. The film stars Anna Díaz and Adriana Paz.