The Bony Lady (2018)

Arely Vazquez's personal story as an immigrant and transgender woman is the starting point of the short movie "La Flaca", that attempts to show what the Santa Muerte (Holy Death) cult is about - a cult formed by those marginalized in our society. The movie blurs the line between documentary and fiction when bringing together real characters and events with a fictional plot, based on the day of the 9th Anniversary of the Santa Muerte. Arely gathers the devotees annually in a celebration through the night, idealized by her as a form of fulfilling her vows to the Skeleton Saint. That same day she is visited by Enriqueta Vargas, the godmother of the cult that comes all the way from Tultitlan, Mexico to follow the celebration but Arely is constantly harassed and threatened by strangers throughout the day. Despite the support from the community and her husband Jorge, Arely faces a big dilemma before continuing with the yearly celebration. "La Flaca" is above all a documentary about the overcoming of prejudices and the breaking of tabus, that also questions social superficial morals. It is a movie about life, but it is also a movie about death - the death that is always just for she'll come to meet us all, sooner or later.