Al otro lado

In a small town in Mexico, 8-year-old Priciliano grapples with the emotional fallout of his father's departure for the United States. His father left in search of work, leaving Priciliano to ponder the reasons behind his absence as his 9th birthday approaches.

Feeling the weight of his father's absence, Priciliano decides he must find his dad, driven by a deep longing for connection. His mother tries to provide stability, but Priciliano's yearning propels him into action, setting him on a quest across borders.

Enlisting the help of a friend, Priciliano prepares to cross a small lagoon on a tiny boat. Their adventure quickly turns perilous as the boat begins to sink, plunging them into a dangerous situation.

As the tiny boat capsizes, Priciliano is thrown into the water and struggles against the waves. In a surreal moment of despair, he feels the presence of a spirit—a tragic figure from a fairy tale told by his father who comes to his rescue.

Following his near-drowning experience, Priciliano has a poignant conversation with his uncle. The uncle reveals deeper insights about their family's economic struggles, helping Priciliano to better understand the difficult choices made by his father.

In Morocco, young Fatima awakens before dawn and sneaks away from home, driven by a desperate desire to find her father, who has been in Spain for two years. She is filled with hope as she embarks on her journey alone.

Fatima meets a man who assures her that she can find passage to Spain. Excited but unaware of the dangers that lay ahead, she boards a boat, only to find herself among older girls who become victims of sex trafficking upon arrival.

Upon reaching Spain, Fatima realizes the grim reality of her situation. Although the trafficker initially spares her due to her age, she soon finds herself entangled in a harrowing world where her freedom hangs by a thread.

Moved by her conscience, the woman holding Fatima captive helps her locate her father. However, upon reuniting, Fatima discovers that her father is living in a troubled relationship, complicating their reunion and future.

Meanwhile, in Cuba, Angel, a boy living with his prostitute mother and loving grandfather, yearns to find his father in America. Confiding in his best friend Walter, he expresses his dreams to one day reunite with the man he believes is waiting for him.

Together, Angel and Walter gather their courage and embark on a treacherous journey across the ocean in an inflatable inner tube. Driven by hope, they set their sights on reaching Florida, where Angel believes his father resides.

As they make their way across the water, Angel and Walter's adventure takes a tragic turn when they encounter stormy seas. Their inflatable tube capsizes, resulting in a heartbreaking drowning that shatters Angel's innocence.

Devastated by the loss of his friend, Angel returns home consumed by guilt and silence. The traumatic experience isolates him, as he struggles to cope with the weight of Walter's drowning and the fear of consequences.

After days of torment, Angel finally confides in his mother about what transpired. Her response is heartbreaking; she reveals that his father never even knew Angel existed, a truth she had hidden to protect him from further pain.

Through each child's journey, the stories poignantly illustrate the heavy emotional toll of separation from parents due to immigration. Their intertwined experiences reflect a universal longing for connection, hope, and the desire for family amidst the harsh realities of life.