Secret of the Alux | Tralier | Playlab 2024

I met the kids in the streets in a Mayan town called San Jose Oriente in Yucatan, Mexico. They were riding bikes and, seeing me with my camera, demanded that I take their photos.
I have to be honest that I didn't know Mayan people still existed and that their culture is still alive. After all, they're not in the news or in the movies.
I wrote a little story - based on their myths of the Aluxes, mythical child-like gods - and went back to their house two days later and asked them if they wanted to act in a movie.
I wanted to gift the the gift of a story, to a community, a town which is largely abandoned from the the present story of the human condition.
After I edited the rough cut, I returned to the house to show them the movie, all the kids were calling the little actor who played the Alux "Alux", so I guess the myth is catching on!
This film is made at Playlab 2024 under the guidance of Pedro Costa
Written & Directed by Kaiwen Li 李凯文
Original Music by Soulspeak
Special Thanks to Leon Boltvinik, Cristian Manzutto & Estephania Bonnett