Middle-aged Magdalena (Hernández) has lost contact with her son after he took off with a friend from their town of Guanajuato to cross the border into the U.S., hopeful to find work.  Desperate to find out what happened to him—and to know whether or not he’s even alive—she embarks on an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous journey to discover the truth.  At the same time, a young man named Miguel (Illescas) has returned to Mexico after being deported from the U.S., and eventually his path converges with Magdalena’s.  From this simple but urgent premise, director Valadez has crafted a lyrical, suspenseful slow burn, equally constructed of moments of beauty and horror, and which leads to a startling, shattering conclusion.  Winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Audience and Screenplay Awards at the Sundance Film Festival.  In Spanish with English subtitles.  (Description courtesy of New Directors/New Films)