The Box

Hatzín, a teenager from Mexico City, sets out for the industrial north of the country to collect his fatherʼs remains. He travels alone to Chihuahua, to a remote site of a recently discovered communal grave. His father, Esteban, is said to be among the exhumed bodies. Eventually, he is handed the ashes in a metal box, along with the accompanying papers. He assures his grandmother on the phone that he is fine. On his way home, he meets a man named Mario. He earns his money by working as a labour broker for the factories in the area. In Hatzín’s view, he seems to be doing some good work. He joins him, seeing in him a father figure, since Mario resembles his late father very much. But appearances are deceptive. Mario is anything but honest and caring. Hatzín soon finds out that his decision to join Mario has serious moral consequences.