A mother and daughter travel across Chile in search of their identity. While the mother wants to learn about the fate of her vanished sister, the daughter, director María Paz González, wants to find out the truth about her biological father at last. On their 2000 km journey the two women are forced to confront each other– and their stories and illusions, deceptions and lies.
María Paz González embarks on a frank and courageous quest for her true origins and real father, who is bound to exist somewhere behind her mother’s florid stories. In her documentary road movie, “journey” also refers to a movement in time and an approach to the truth. Gradually the insecurities and simmering conflicts between the two women give way to a feeling of attachment, making room for humour, intimacy and honest exchange. As in many road movies, the question whether the initial goal of the journey will be reached is beside the point. The stillness of the images and the silence between the women suggest that they have bonded.

– Paulo de Carvalho

In the early morning, Mauricio the lifeguard meticulously prepares for his job. It’s quiet now, but soon crowds of people will take the beach by storm. Mauricio himself avoids entering the water. Instead he tirelessly tries to enforce order and safety regulations on the beach. His motto is “prevention is better than rescue”. His colleague Jean Pierre has quite a different idea of the job. Prevention, responsibility, or maybe even dedication don’t seem to be his strong suit. He’s late, lives for the day and has a fondness for flinging his muscular body into the waves – after all, there is always an audience. One job and two attitudes. But who will be there when a swimmer really gets in trouble in the Pacific surf?
This rich, poignant and funny film is the remarkable debut of director Maite Alberdi, who pushes the boundaries of the documentary as she compresses the tumultuous life on this holiday beach into a microcosm of Chilean society. What seems a light summer film at first glance ultimately raises universal issues of freedom, guilt, and responsibility.

– Paulo de Carvalho