The Cambria Film Festival is sponsoring “Voices Through Time,” a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on Saturday, September 6, at the Cambria Center for the Arts Theatre and Studio Gallery. The event includes four short films—The Eye Begins in the Hand (El Ojo Comienza En La Mano), The Unbroken Sky, Freedom Is a Verb, and Límite—that were screened earlier this year during the 2025 Cambria Film Festival. Two of the films were honored with awards at the festival in February: Edel Rodriguez: Freedom Is a Verb won the award for best documentary short, and The Unbroken Sky won the Nancy Green Founder’s Award.
Personal, Not Abstract
Edel Rodriguez, Freedom Is a Verb is a short documentary inspired by the artist and his family, who were Cuban refugees. Rodriguez feels he has an obligation to use his freedom of speech and artistic talent to spark change and conversation. His art is all about contrast: between his playful style and his sharp political undertones, between depictions of the home he left in Cuba and the home he made in America.
The film is peppered with his art as well as photographs from his childhood, giving the viewer a vivid glimpse into his story. It feels very Cuban-American, from the music, to the vibrant color scheme, to the recurring visuals of the American flag—mirroring the themes and emotions of his art.
The pacing is brisk, the visuals are engaging, and the stories feel personal rather than abstract due to interviews, snippets of family moments, and photos from the artist’s childhood.
Criminal or Victim?
Cruz Velazquez Acevedo died after being told by U.S. border control agents to drink liquid meth.
Límite is a 37-minute feature based on that true story. It begins with 16-year-old Manuel meeting a girl in a restaurant, which ultimately leads him into an entangled relationship with a drug cartel. While smuggling drugs into America, Manuel’s situation worsens and it feels as though he has no choices.
Director George Nicholas puts a human face on this widely politicized event, making it even more shocking and tragic. While the themes and subject matter are powerful and well incorporated into the story, the acting and dialogue often seem forced and unrealistic. The cinematography also seems forced, at times featuring a strange vintage effect for no apparent reason, with the color grading way too aggressive.
That being said, the film illustrates how easily desperate children are manipulated, and how they are unfortunately treated as criminals instead of victims.
Poetry and Art
The Eye Begins in the Hand (El Ojo Comienza En La Mano) is an esoteric blend of Lorena Alvarado’s poetry and the artwork of Ruben A. Sanchez.
Although the recitations are exceptional, and the artwork is impressive, I struggled to grasp this film as presented. The filmmaker, Yehuda Sharim, has said that its 16 minutes are a tribute to campesino realities and histories in rural California as seen through the artwork of Sanchez, a fieldworker and muralist whom Sharim believes is “largely absent from critical conversations on Chicanx art.”
Ironic Contrasts
Based on the memoirs of Francisco Jimenez and set in 1950s California, The Unbroken Sky chronicles the experience of a young Mexican boy as he navigates the challenges of being an immigrant, from balancing labor and education while evading deportation to being tasked with supporting his ailing father. His family’s pursuit of stability and dignity produces a timeless immigrant story that echoes today’s debates on belonging and identity.
The main character is an avid student, and throughout the film recites the declaration of independence in preparation for a class project. This subtle detail brings an ironic contrast to the film, and when he is detained by border control, his family has to make the tough decision of returning to Mexico or separating the family.
This heartbreaking theme of family and stability is why this film is so powerful. While there are some breathtaking shots of California landscape, the film focuses on faces, instilling a personal feel. The performances are impressive, adding an extra level of humanity to the family’s struggle. This is a family film that could change your perspective on immigration, America, and freedom.