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Joaquín Ruano Returns to Morelia to Debut NOSOTROS

Omar Sosa

A year after participating in Impulso Morelia 11, producer and director Joaquín Ruano returns to the 24th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) to present his debut feature, Nosotros. The film is part of the festival’s Official Selection in competition.

The Guatemalan-Mexican filmmaker, joined by Mayra Salvador, Lola Vásquez, and Josef Coxaj, held a press conference during the festival.

“I speak on behalf of the entire team when I say we are very excited to be in Morelia. It is the Latin American premiere [of the film],” Ruano said at the beginning of the Q&A section. Furthermore, he acknowledged the high quality of the festival's curation.

Nosotros is the result of a process that began 15 years ago, when Ruano felt certain concerns about migration and internal migration. Over time, his motivation for telling this story evolved, eventually adopting a more social perspective. “The themes that appear in this film are not unique to Mexico, nor to Michoacán—they are relevant everywhere,” he pointed out.

When asked about the characters’ narrative arcs and how they relate to the cinematography, the director explained, “Loneliness is a central theme of the film. The experience of not fitting in—of feeling marginalized within a world that is already marginalized—was key. Through the cinematography, we sought to reflect that.”

Mayra Salvador and Josef Coxaj discussed their preparation process for their respective roles. A highlight of the project for them was the guidance and attention provided by Joaquín Ruano, which made them feel supported as they explored their characters.

“The [intimacy] training was incredibly helpful—it was a crucial element. And with Lola, there was an immediate connection from the moment we auditioned,” Coxaj noted. Adding to this, Vásquez commented that, although the process leading up to the intimate scene was long, the exercises they carried out with the intimacy coach were essential to achieving the result seen on screen. “When I watch this scene, I don’t see a sexual scene. The sexual aspect ceases to be what’s important; instead, it becomes a very beautiful, intimate moment,” he added.

Nosotros tells the story of Romero, who leaves his family in the Guatemalan highlands to work as a private security guard in the city. Immersed in a routine defined by constant surveillance and tension, his life changes when he meets Nubia, a trans woman who owns a small shop in the shopping center where he works. An intimate sanctuary of tenderness and desire blossoms between them, but the growing paranoia surrounding them soon puts this fragile space at risk.