Year of the Nail

Molly travels to rural and coastal Mexico to photograph ancient ruins and landscapes, then the story briefly moves to New York City and its seaside Coney Island in pursuit of momentary connection. Key locations include the Mexican coastal town and a ranching area near Diego's grandmother's home, where family and memory frame the encounter. The contrast between sunlit beaches and urban scenes highlights the film's focus on visual discovery and intimate exchanges between two very different worlds.

🌍 Cross-Cultural Romance

An American student and a Mexican teen find common ground across language and cultural barriers. Their budding attraction unfolds against sunlit coastlines, ruins, and the flicker of two distinct lifestyles. The romance is tempered by distance, practical constraints, and the reality that their worlds may not fully align.

⏳ Time, Distance & Growth

The film traces how time and distance test a fleeting connection. The characters attempt to bridge two different lives—Molly's present and Diego's familial responsibilities—through brief reunions and a bold, but ill-judged, trip to New York. Ultimately, the relationship reshapes them as they move on with their separate paths.

💔 Family, Obligation & Letting Go

Family duties and financial pressures shape the choices of both characters. Diego navigates a complicated crush and familial expectations while Molly returns to her life and artistic ambitions. The story uses these tensions to explore how affection can be real yet unsustainable within a shared but divergent life.