The Film
Film Synopsis
While making a film about a group of Spanish-speaking elders in Sacramento, documentary photographer Janine Mapurunga loses her grandmother, who dies unexpectedly in her home country Brazil. Unable to be with her family in Brazil as she faces her greatest loss to date, she finds comfort with the elders, who share their personal experiences as they face their own mortality. With grace, the elders remind us of the simple joy of being alive while we can.
In this bilingual film, Mapurunga’s narrative weaves together two parallel storylines: a) the photographer embracing the Mexican tradition of altar making for Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) as a tool to cope with her grief; and b) the elders openly sharing their experiences with aging and the importance of being together in community during the “third stage of life.”
This short documentary shines light on a population that suffers from invisibility. Spanish speaking immigrants are still widely marginalized in California. Older folks often fall through the cracks in our ever-faster lives mediated by technology. Unfortunately, honoring elders is increasingly devalued in modern U.S. society. Bien Juntitos reminds us of the importance of honoring our elders as we have done throughout human evolution. The immigrant experience and Mexican cultural traditions are key aspects of the story, but this film tells a universally relatable story suitable for audiences of all cultural backgrounds.
This is a film about the unavoidable grief of losing an elder, and also about the importance of being together and connecting with the joy of being alive. This heartwarming short documentary film is bound to draw tears and inspire audiences to make time to enjoy the company of their elders while they can. Bien Juntitos is also an inspiration for elders to seek community and make an effort to maintain a joyous and active social life at all stages of life.
Behind the scenes images of production of Bien Juntitos film.