Mexican Director Lila Avilés Highlights Indigenous Ensemble Mujeres del Viento Florido
On February 23, at the Roxy Cinema in New York, Mexican filmmaker Lila Avilés introduced her latest film, MÚSICAS, which follows Mujeres del Viento Florido, an Indigenous all-female wind instrument ensemble from Oaxaca. Created in partnership with RIMOWA, the film sheds light on the group’s music, traditions, and unity.
“There’s a lot of prejudices about Mexico, and now that there are more hard times, it’s wonderful to show this other part of Mexico that is music, that is traditions – that is unity,” Avilés remarked at the event. The ensemble, composed of 40 musicians from the Sierra Norte and Valles Centrales regions, is led by Leticia Gallardo, who joined Avilés in New York for the screening. It was the first time Gallardo heard the hopes and dreams of the girls she leads. “But I don’t want this to be only a dream, but a reality that transcends,” Gallardo said.
At the heart of MÚSICAS is the music itself, featuring scenes of trumpeting against breathtaking backdrops and moments dedicated to the sounds alone. The film is inspired by RIMOWA’s collaboration with German music instrument manufacturer GEWA on a new aluminum Trumpet Case. It also tells the story of one of Mexico’s few all-female bands navigating a traditionally male-dominated genre. The film offers a view of Tlahuitoltepec from the perspective of women who love their homeland—one of whom realized that being outside with friends is much better than spending time in an internet café (a lesson for many of us).
The day after the New York screening, Avilés and Gallardo were making plans to show MÚSICAS to the people in Oaxaca who star in it. The film will also be featured in upcoming film festivals before being released online by RIMOWA.
Avilés speaks about her approach to directing and the power of people-driven storytelling.
Beautiful Film Inspires Instrumental Dreams
Avilés: “Thank you. As a filmmaker, when you receive an invitation to create with open creativity, it’s the best of the best. I knew about Leticia and Mujeres del Viento Florido, and that she was doing a lot with music and girls. So I thought, ‘Hey, I want to follow these girls.’”
What Drew Avilés to Mujeres del Viento Florido
Avilés: “There are sometimes prejudices about Mexico and stories about violence, but for me, Mexico has a lot of culture and a profound and sacred union with the land and compassion. Music doesn’t have a gender, but if you look for women trumpetists, it’s almost zero. It’s really difficult to find. For me, it’s not only the bands but also the communal structure that empowers these girls – their dreams and struggles. They are a force.”
Filming Schedule and Experience
Avilés: “We were there one week, but it was a crazy ride. It looks like we were there longer because these women move so strongly and fast.”
Avilés’ Relationship with Music
Avilés: “I’m from Campeche, but I’m a Mexico City citizen. I’ve worked a lot in opera, so music has always been close to me, but I’m not a musician. I dance a lot and can feel it. How I direct is almost, for me, music. They have such energy that you need to be on that level.”
Emphasizing the Girls’ Love for Their Home
Avilés: “I’m like a jazz director, so I improvise a lot. You’re following a human, and you need to feel their essence and be open. I, obviously, have a lot of notes, but it’s beautiful when you just let people be free and express themselves.”
Reaction to the Screening
Avilés: “It was the first time Leticia was watching, and I normally only watch my films one time. I could feel that the audience was catching the essence, and Leticia was crying. It’s what makes you keep working: I like people in all parts of the world. I like to hear, observe and catch something. To discover, be curious and have a point of view. That’s the beauty of cinema. If you see a film from Congo, you may not have been there, but you realize we’re super similar. We eat, we laugh, we cry, and we have our struggles. That’s the essence of community.”
Knowing When to Make a Film About a Group of People
Avilés: “When you’re creative and something comes to your mind that you’re so passionate about and won’t let go, there’s a fire in the heart. You have this intuitive intuition. I love the journey of Agnès Varda and how she made films about the Black Panthers and also graffiti. She’d do a huge film and then a small film but was always encouraging her passion. Nowadays, we’re surrounded by so much visual language that it’s nice to have a profound intuition that asks: OK, it’s beautiful, but what else?”
Source: Dazed Digital
