Italian
With a heady dose of ‘80s nostalgia and the gravity that only a script full of fierce intergenerational matriarchs can bring to the table, Mexico’s Mayra Hermosillo revealed a cut of her nuanced and buzzy coming-of-age title “Vainilla,” among the players selected for Ventana Sur’s Primer Corte.
The film is produced by Stacy Perskie, Karla Luna Cantú and Andrea Porras Madero at Mexico’s lauded Redrum, with production credits that include Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Bardo” and Gael Garcia Bernal-fronted Golden Globe winner “Mozart in the Jungle.” Paloma Petra at Nuevo León-based Huasteca Casa Cinematográfica co-produces the project.
“The incredible level of detail in the script and how vividly the world and characters came to life stood out to us. The story felt deeply personal and profoundly moving. We want to support projects that offer fresh perspectives with underrepresented voices and that can inspire audiences, this was a perfect opportunity,” Perskie, Luna Cantú and Porras Madero tell Variety.
Popular on Variety Hermosillo’s directorial feature debut follows the plight of seven strong-willed women as they fight to save their family home from foreclosure. The narrative is anchored by the youngest member of the family, Roberta. At 8, she’s wide-eyed and brazen, slowly becoming aware of the way others perceive her living situation that rests outside conventional norms – no father in sight, just a myriad of influences who cycle through different versions of their femininity.
It seems vital that the script centers her experience, as the unburdened and magical way she envisions the world lends weight to each scene when juxtaposed with the adults around her, their firm exteriors refusing to give way to defeat or charity.
“I chose to tell the story through the eyes of the youngest member of this big family because it’s the only experience I can genuinely speak about. As a child, all I wanted was to belong to that clan of adults, to be part of those women who contributed to maintain our household. I found their work incredibly appealing—the routines, the schedules, earning money. From a purely innocent perspective, I didn’t fully grasp what it really meant to sustain a life,” Hermosillo shares.
“Looking back now, with the benefit of time and reflection, I think this decision shapes how the story is told by bringing us back to its essence. As we grow older, we lose that innocence and naivety and start shielding ourselves according to what society deems right or wrong. Telling the story from a childhood perspective allows me to hold onto that truth and that essence I once had—a time when I wasn’t afraid to show who I was,” she added.
With a million and one ways to form a family, traditionally only a few sanitized versions of the nuclear unit make it to the big screen, leaving a swath of the populace to defend their version of home against outdated norms.
“Vainilla” manages to both ingratiate and inform, as the characters march around one another in a home that’s as comforting as it is suffocating. Through Roberta, we’re privy to succinct portraits of all the women in her circle who form a united front to raise, influence and adore her – their strengths and weakness equally present. The house overflows with a serene sort of love amidst the chaos, everyone working toward salvation.
“I believe that each family, each individual, is unique. The social structures we create often label behaviors as acceptable or unacceptable, good or bad, extreme or moderate. I don’t think any family is exempt from this complexity. Every family possesses its own particularity, originality and essence. Acknowledging, accepting and sharing these differences allows us to feel connected in a society where everyone is distinct,” Hermosillo relays.
“We all seek to belong to a community, a ‘tribe’ that permits us to be ourselves and express our experiences authentically. When we face challenges within our family relationships, especially with close relatives like mothers or siblings, the nature of those bonds differs from friendships. Why do we grant families so much leeway? I believe there’s so much to explore in understanding these dynamics and how they relate to other areas of life, such as work and friendships,” she continued. “It’s important to recognize that we’re all different, and diverse experiences can trigger various responses in us. Fostering open conversations about vulnerability can help us understand one another better. But, I wonder if the world is truly ready for that kind of dialogue?”
An eyes-wide-open account of childhood, its wonder and the disillusionment it brings, the script allows Roberta’s untameable sense of self to permeate the scenes, soaking up the elders’ troubles up like a sponge. Not immune to the anxiety or isolation of being an outcast in dire straits-she holds onto hope tightly and infuses a charm that recalls a very sobering moment in our timelines-when our childhood armor was compromised by outside influence.
“Crafting Roberta’s perspective mirrors my own experience. I’ve always been a playful person, even as life has demanded a certain seriousness. The needs, fears and struggles of others eventually impose a gravity that you can’t avoid, no matter how much you wish to approach things through playfulness. At some point, you have to face the reality of it all—an uncomfortable place of accepting that things will change, transform, and ultimately affect you as well,” Hermosillo explains.
She adds: “One of the best things that happened to me as a child was that my mother and grandmother spoke to me honestly. They rarely hid things from me—whether financial issues, emotional struggles or even breakups. While that honesty shaped me, it also shifted my childhood experience. It didn’t traumatize me, but it transformed me. It’s like being at your best friend’s birthday party—everyone is laughing and playing until suddenly someone gets hurt. The fun stops, and you have to deal with that moment of pain. That’s life, really. It’s full of joy and innocence, but eventually, reality comes in and changes the tone.I wanted to reflect that duality in Roberta’s world—the balance of playfulness and the unavoidable moments where life’s seriousness demands acknowledgment.”
Aurora Dávila, Fernanda Baca, María Castella, Paloma Petra, Natalia Plascencia, Rosy Rojas and Lola Ochoa star in the project, which received support from Mexico’s Focine fund in 2023 after being selected by the National Fund for Culture and the Arts for script development in 2021. The film was selected to participate in the Rencontres de Toulouse Festival’s Cinema in Progress strand in March.
“Bringing this project to life wasn’t without its challenges. Redrum primarily works on studio-backed productions and ‘Vainilla’ is a completely independent film that was possible through Mexican film incentives and the help of our collaborators. It’s a labor of love, created with limited resources but an abundance of passion and determination. We’re incredibly grateful for everyone who contributed,and we’re hopeful we will secure the finishing funds needed to share this journey with audiences around the world. Our hearts are filled with gratitude and excitement for what’s to come,” Perskie, Luna Cantú and Porras Madero stated.
