“A poignant, compelling film that establishes Hermosillo as one of the most exciting new voices in contemporary Mexican cinema.”

Growing up is not always easy, especially when someone is born into circumstances that prevent them from having a childhood free from specific challenges. Yet, there can be so much freedom in undergoing the process of overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles and rising above certain limitations. Mayra Hermosillo uses this as the inspiration for Vainilla, her absolutely exquisite directorial debut in which we are introduced to Roberta, a precocious eight-year-old girl who grows up in Northern Mexico in the early 1990s, surrounded by three generations of women. Each one of them has their own personal issues, but these are appropriately set aside when they gather together in their small home, which is on the verge of being foreclosed due to the debt owed. Over the course of a few days (leading to a small party she intends to throw for the friends she wishes she had) the young protagonist drifts in and out of reality, exploring her home and its surroundings in an effort not only to find a way to save her family from being evicted, but also to seek out answers to some very peculiar existential questions that only continue to plague her as time progresses. It’s a poignant, compelling film that establishes Hermosillo as one of the most exciting new voices in contemporary Mexican cinema, whose keen observations and incredible approach to her artistry make Vainilla a remarkable achievement, and a film that feels both wildly original and deeply sincere.

At a glance, Vainilla seems quite conventional and straightforward. The director takes inspiration from a number of classic coming-of-age stories, which set the foundation for what rapidly becomes one of the more intriguing entries into this genre. The core of the film is an examination of the dynamic between the different women in this family as they handle their own personal challenges and quandaries. They know that, regardless of what obstacles they may find while navigating the outside world, there is always a sense of sanctuary when gathered around the kitchen table where they have shed tears over life’s tragedies and celebrated joyfully in moments of good fortune. All of this is filtered through the eyes of the young protagonist, with Hermosillo drawing from her own upbringing in creating this fascinating character who embodies the innocence of youth, showing how the world is a far more magical place when one is a child and hasn’t been forced to carry the burden of life’s harsh realities. As both a deeply personal autobiographical account of her childhood, and a tribute to womanhood across the generations, Vainilla makes some profound statements, showing how each of these characters handles certain problems, whether they are shared responsibilities or more bespoke impediments to their everyday life. The collision between the curious, idealistic perspective of Roberta and the more cynical, anxious view held by her older family members creates a fascinating relationship between these women, attempting to determine whether it is childhood innocence or adult realism that ultimately wins out and becomes the defining guide to embracing these seemingly insurmountable challenges that stand in their way of achieving true domestic bliss.

Vainilla is a very simple film, despite the sometimes hefty subject matter, and rather than layering the film with too much exposition that would make the plot overly dense and difficult to embrace, Hermosillo chooses to focus on creating memorable moments with her actors. The film is a wonderfully endearing character study in which each one of these seven women (as well as a few of the other characters who exist on the periphery, such as neighbours and fellow residents of this quaint hamlet) is painted in broad, meaningful strokes, becoming complex, fully realised characters in their own right. It isn’t even appropriate to describe this cast as a traditional ensemble, since it feels more like a chorus of eccentric, fascinating personalities, each of them as interesting and vibrant as their colourful, idiosyncratic surroundings. This approach not only showcases the exceptional talents of the cast (which is plucked from different generations and has varying levels of experience within the industry, ranging from newcomers to seasoned veterans), but allows Vainilla to be an even more invigorating, daring achievement based on the amount of time it is willing to dedicate to unravelling the many complexities and quirks that define these women. Every viewer will likely find a different standout in the cast (which only underlines the strength of the ensemble), but it’s difficult to deny that it is Aurora Dávila who holds the entire film together, her youth not posing an obstacle in bringing this fascinating protagonist to life and allowing us to see the world through the eyes of such a lovable fledgling heroine.

To bind all of these very ambitious qualities together, we find that the director employs a specific cadence to bring this film to life. The guiding principle of Vainilla is essentially that there is always value in simplicity, whether it’s providing a general overview of the day-to-day lives of these characters, or fixating on a specific quality that defines the narrative and makes it far more engaging than it would have been in less skillful hands. A large part of this is found in the emotional content of the film, which oscillates between tender drama and heartwarming comedy, the combination of joyful and downbeat moments being integral to the development of the film’s core ideas. The film centres around a family who are struggling, at least in financial terms, which Hermosillo presents as being very important for their survival, but far from the only concern for these characters who are doing what they can to make the most of their humble lives. The result is a tender and insightful look at the harsh realities faced by the working class, and while it’s certainly not some manifesto against greed and corruption in the government or the private sector, it does have a rebellious streak that informs both the moments of humour and the encroaching sense of melancholy which gradually moves towards the centre of the story. There is a clear refusal to resort to the trite emotions that we might expect, and while there are several moments that veer towards sentimentality, each one of them is valuable and entirely justified. This approach to the emotions is mostly gentle, but also unafraid to be forceful and steadfast where required, allowing the film to offer a multilayered, richly crafted blend of humour and pathos that emphasises the underlying meanings so important to defining it.

There is a common sentiment that someone is only truly poor if they lead a life without joy or curiosity, and that financial wealth means very little in the broader picture of the importance of enjoying life and taking every moment as it comes to us. This is one of the central subjects of conversation in Vainilla, a film based around exploring the different challenges faced by a group of women, each one having to endure various obstacles of their own, but nonetheless finding their way home at the end of the day, both literally and figuratively. This is more than just a coming-of-age story, or an ode to family and culture – it’s a rich, textured look at the lives of ordinary people who are rendered as complex, vibrant characters, players in this beautiful, moving story of a group of women doing what they can to survive and support one another through various challenges, being unconditional in their love and being there for each other when times are good or bad. As both a bittersweet comedy and a poignant statement on culture, traditions and the importance of maintaining strong familial bonds in daunting times, Vainilla is an incredible achievement. It establishes Hermosillo as someone whose career we should keenly watch, as well as showcasing the immense gifts of everyone involved in its creation, on both sides of the camera. Not too many films can so immediately find a home in the heart of every viewer, but the joyful, exuberant exploration of these women and their efforts to keep themselves afloat during uncertain times creates such a dynamic, compelling glimpse into the human condition, one that lingers with us long after the film has ended.