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Environmental Crimes Are Something We Had to Address: Pérez Lombardini on LA RESERVA at the 23rd FICM

Gustavo R. Gallardo

As part of the 23rd Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), filmmaker Pablo Pérez Lombardini held a press conference about La reserva, a film that addresses the dangers of environmental activism in Mexico.

With producer Liliana Pardo, acting coach Tania Olhovic, and actor Abel Aguilar in attendance, the director said that this film was born after reading an article on how many people in communities are killed in Mexico.

“Mexico is one of the countries where the most people are killed each year for defending the land. At that moment, it seemed to me that this was an important issue that needed to be addressed through film,” Pérez Lombardini explained.

While most of the inhabitants of Monte Virgen are busy harvesting coffee, forest ranger Julia discovers that the reserve is being deforested by illegal loggers. Determined to stop them, she seeks help from a fearful and indifferent community that soon turns its back on her. Alone in her struggle, the park ranger receives death threats and gradually loses everything she loves except for one thing: her dignity.

On her quest, she meets Carolina Guzmán, the film's protagonist and a key link between the production team and local communities. Guzmán collaborated on the research and helped Lombardini understand the situation of those who depend on the land for their livelihood.

Filmed in black and white to avoid altering the landscape and to emphasize the music, La reserva questions who has the right to live in a certain location.

Actor Abel Aguilar, pointed out the need for the film to inspire reflection and action not only in communities, but also among authorities.

“It is from the forest that water, air, and even food that sustain other places are produced. Communities have it harder; there is no industry, they don't receive a fixed salary, but depend on what the land gives them,” he said.

Filmmaker Pérez Lombardini revealed that in 2026, he will tour nature reserves and rural areas with free screenings to give back to the communities.