Identifying Features

In a small town in Guanajuato, Jesus is encouraged by his friend Rigo to leave their harsh rural life and attempt to cross the border into the United States. This moment marks the beginning of their perilous journey, laying the groundwork for the unfolding tragedy.

After Jesus and Rigo depart, their mothers are left to cope with the weight of their choices. Magdalena, Jesus's mother, feels profound heartbreak and loneliness as the days stretch into months with no word from her son.

After a long period of worrying about their sons, Magdalena and Chuya, Rigo's mother, decide to bring their fears to the authorities. They are met with grim photographs of deceased immigrants, igniting their worst fears regarding the fates of their children.

In a devastating moment, Chuya identifies Rigo among the deceased immigrants' photos, crushing her hopes. Meanwhile, Magdalena's anxiety heightens as she fails to find any sign of Jesus in the images, leaving her desperate for answers.

Inspired by Chuya's words at Rigo's funeral, Magdalena decides to embark on a journey northward to find her son. Driven by profound love and determination, she refuses to accept that Jesus is gone.

Upon arriving at a government facility filled with the victims of violence, Magdalena undergoes a blood test in hopes of being matched with Jesus’s remains. Despite her efforts, she finds no matches, but her heart skips when she recognizes Jesus's backpack among the belongings of the deceased.

Just before she is about to declare her son dead, Magdalena meets Olivia, a mother who lost her son Diego. Olivia shares her own heart-wrenching story, instilling Magdalena with newfound hope and determination to continue her search.

While at a migrant shelter, Magdalena learns from La Regis about a brutal bus attack that claimed many lives, including those of passengers who had hoped to find a better life. Among the few survivors is an elderly man named Alberto Mateo.

Magdalena sets out to find Alberto, who lives in Ocampo, a village affected by violence and drug lords. Arriving in this troubled region, she is faced with despair as she witnesses the devastation inflicted upon the community.

In Ocampo, Magdalena encounters Miguel, a recently deported teenager searching for his mother. Together, they explore the ruins of the neighborhood, realizing the town has suffered immense losses and despair.

Eventually, Magdalena locates Alberto and learns the chilling truth about the bus attack. He reveals that the passengers, including Rigo and Jesus, were captured and killed, deepening her heartbreak and sense of hopelessness.

Determined to save Miguel, Magdalena hopes to convince him to leave with her. However, their escape is thwarted when armed men arrive, leading to chaos as Miguel is tragically shot during this violent encounter.

To Magdalena's astonishment, she is confronted by her son, Jesus, during the chaotic fight. Jesus reveals his grim reality, confessing to being forced into violence and the killing of Rigo, leaving Magdalena devastated.

In an emotional goodbye, Jesus implores Magdalena to hide while he is pulled away by the armed group. This bittersweet encounter leaves her with an unbearable mixture of hope and despair as she watches him disappear.

After the chaos, Magdalena takes Miguel's lifeless body back to the authorities, unable to comprehend her overwhelming loss. The haunting image of a devilish figure at the bonfire serves as a chilling reminder of the unresolved violence and despair that permeates their lives.