Hummingbirds
Season 37 Episode 2 | 1h 15m 25sVideo has Audio Description, Closed Captions
Bordertown besties make magic of one last summer together as they face uncertain futures.
In Hummingbirds, Silvia and Beba tell their own coming-of-age story, transforming their hometown on the Texas-Mexico border into a wonderland of creative expression and activist hijinks. Filmed collaboratively over the final summer of their fleeting youth, their cinematic self-portrait celebrates the power of friendship and joy as tools of survival and resistance.
Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, the Open Society Foundations and the...
Hummingbirds
Season 37 Episode 2 | 1h 15m 25sVideo has Audio Description, Closed Captions
In Hummingbirds, Silvia and Beba tell their own coming-of-age story, transforming their hometown on the Texas-Mexico border into a wonderland of creative expression and activist hijinks. Filmed collaboratively over the final summer of their fleeting youth, their cinematic self-portrait celebrates the power of friendship and joy as tools of survival and resistance.
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Every two weeks, we curate a selection of POV docs, old and new, around a central theme. Stream while you can — until the next Playlist!Providing Support for PBS.org
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪♪♪ -In the streets of Laredo!
-In the streets of Laredo.
-[ Laughs ] -Oh, [bleep] I'm scared of falling.
-[ Laughs ] Look.
There's only one star, and I'm really upset.
-How much you wanna bet I can find another one?
-[ Laughs ] What?
-[ Babbling ] -I said, "How much you wanna bet I can find another one?"
-Okay, go.
Oh, it's over there!
-Where?
[ Laughter ] -You don't let me look for anything.
-There's only two stars.
-No, lemme see.
-You gotta look for another one.
-Oh, my God, I can't see anything.
-I already found another one.
[ Laughter ] No!
-Oh, yeah.
That one over there.
-Where?
-There.
It's probably there somewhere.
-No, there's that one, there's that one, and then there's that one that's behind the clouds.
-It's 'cause it's cloudy.
-Do you see it?
-That's Jupiter.
That's a really bright star.
-Whoa!
There's four of them now.
One, two, three...four.
-Four.
I thought that's the one you meant.
-That was the one I meant, but now there's this one.
-So, this one appeared.
-Oh!
There's another one!
-Where?
Where?
Ay!
Chiquita!
There's five.
-Ah, that's cute.
-Look, bats!
-Is that a bat?
-Either bats or bugs.
[ Train whistle blowing ] -That train is so loud.
-When are we gonna live in space?
-When the world ends.
-You know that [bleep] is for rich white people.
They're like, "Yeah, let's get out of here.
Let's move to space."
-That's okay.
-If they -- If they -- If they leave, we'll just be here.
-We'll just have the planet by ourselves.
When it's already [bleep] [ Car alarm blaring ] What the [bleep] [ Both laughing ] -Do you remember everything from that last summer?
-Scene -- Scene 20 out of 50,000.
And action!
-I'm actually forgetting...
I'm forgetting.
I'm forgetting so much.
-♪ I don't know where I'm going ♪ ♪ At least I'm not alone ♪ ♪ We're fearless, and we show it ♪ ♪ We're always wanting more ♪ ♪ Our love is overflowing ♪ ♪ It's pouring on the floor ♪ ♪ We're growing, and we know it ♪ ♪ We're not the kids we were before ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ We're not the kids we were before ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ -Apparently when you record something, it's, like, more likely to forget it, 'cause your brain is like, "Well, it's stored somewhere else."
♪♪♪ -You can always watch it again and remember.
-That's true.
-I can't wait to go back and just be like... "Oh, I remember."
♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ -Wait.
No, stay there.
-Do I look at the camera?
-[ Laughs ] -What's wrong with you, you [bleep] psycho?
-'Cause you're just like this.
You look like Roblox.
Ah!
[ Horn honks ] Wait.
No.
No, don't pose like that yet.
I wanna see this.
-I'm just standing, lady.
-Don't.
Just -- Just stand straight.
But look that way.
To the sky like if you have dreams and goals and stuff.
♪♪♪ Let's go somewhere with less sun.
Oh, look!
Look over there.
Over there.
Straight over there.
-Where?
I don't see it.
-Over there.
Look.
Over there.
I think it's gonna take off.
Oooh.
Scary.
-Have you ever been on a plane?
-Ooh, it's turning.
Look, it's turning.
Me?
No.
[ Camera shutters click ] I feel like I haven't moved from last year.
Like, I'm in the same situation that I was last year, except last year, I was pregnant.
-Why do you say that?
-'Cause I'm still not doing [bleep] -Well, that's okay though.
I feel like sometimes it's just really hard.
I'm not doing anything either.
-We're doing nothing together.
-I used to go into the backyard as the sun was setting and I'd look up and I'd howl into the sky.
I was always waiting for another kid to listen and howl back.
Sometimes they would.
Sometimes it was next door and sometimes from far away.
It made me feel so powerful that I could howl into the sky and some other me would howl back.
You don't have a middle name?
-I wish I did.
I wanna try to get one.
-What would your middle name be?
-Silvia.
-Ew!
-Del Carmen.
-Ew.
-Carmen del Silvia.
No, I want Andromeda.
Give me support.
[ Line ringing ] -Good afternoon.
Vielma Law Firm.
-Hi, this is Estefanía.
I wanted to ask about my status, well, the status of my case.
I don't know if that's okay.
-Okay.
Well, what's your last name?
-Estefanía Contreras.
-Okay.
I'll be with you in a moment.
-Okay.
Thank you.
-Hi, I was supposed to call your mom to provide status, because we actually got the packet back, and we're gonna have to submit the packets separately.
So, we're gonna send everything the same.
Just the fee waivers, we're now gonna have to try submitting them separately.
-Okay.
And what does that mean for like the -- for like me and like everyone else, having the visa to travel and to work?
Like, how -- -It's -- It's still -- We're gonna have to send the packet again.
-Oh, okay.
-Because what they're not accepting is the fee waiver.
That way you guys don't have to pay for the immigration process.
-Oh, okay.
Okay.
Ay.
I really wanted to work already.
Like, I was just waiting for it to be approved.
That way I can just start applying everywhere.
-Yeah.
That sucks.
-It does.
I thought it was good news!
'Cause she was like, "Oh, yeah!
We received it."
And I was like, "Oh!"
And then she received the packet where they deny it.
-Bitch.
-Bitch.
[ Sighs ] [ Keyboard playing ] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ I'm sweating from my eyebrows.
No.
-Wow!
You can't even tell.
-'Cause I'm naturally gorgeous!
-[ Laughs ] -Gorgeous.
-Gorgeous.
♪ Let yours take a generous bow ♪ Is it bow or vow?
-I've never heard that song.
-I mean, it has to...
It depends.
'Cause they're two things, right?
Vow and bow.
-Bow is like bowing, and vow is like diosito.
Alright?
Vow is like "I promise."
I don't know.
-Did you see what I did?
♪ You'll be alright, come and meet me in the morning ♪ ♪ I'll be in the sunrise hoping that its rays ♪ ♪ Don't burn a hole in my eyes ♪ ♪ You know me, I worry ♪ ♪ Could always use some pity ♪ ♪ Scared you'll do a session if it's in the city ♪ ♪ You and I are monsters ♪ ♪ We'll not find another, cannot be together ♪ ♪ Lest we eat each other ♪ ♪ Don't let me go ♪ -[ Laughs ] ♪♪♪ No, I feel like the song's too happy.
-It's too -- Yeah.
-Let me see if I have anything else.
Something nicer.
That would be so good for our poem.
-Which one?
-The one that I have written for you.
-Art poem?
-Our.
-Do it.
Try it.
-Do you wanna hear it?
-No.
I don't know.
Okay.
-Where is it?
-I'm gonna cry if you say it.
-Yeah, you're gonna cry.
Let me look for it.
I have very little.
I have not a lot, but go.
Do it.
"I find comfort in love that I could never resent.
I found it in a woman who shared the same pain.
We held each other's hands as life seeped out of our wombs.
It is a love that understands.
Tells me the horrible things that run through her head, but never asks me to fix them."
-That's so cute.
-[ Laughs ] I'm not done!
-I'm gonna cry!
-That's as much as I have, though.
-Okay!
♪♪♪ This is my jam.
♪♪♪ -[ Laughs ] ♪♪♪ [ Laughs ] -Oh, they said hola!
-iHola!
-Whoa!
Did you see that?
-I've never been this close to the river except when I crossed.
Have you been in it?
-When I was in my mom's womb.
-Same.
I'm just kidding.
I was on my mom's shoulders.
-Really?
-Yeah.
She was carrying me.
-Do you remember?
-No.
She told me.
I was, like, the youngest one.
I think my mom was pregnant with Bebo.
-That's crazy.
-I think so.
-Your mom's crazy.
-My mom cray cray.
-I thought my mom was crazy.
Your mom's crazy.
She took you on her shoulders, and then Bebo -- -Or in her arms.
I don't know.
I don't know how they did it.
Look, guys, I'm in Mexico.
♪ Doo doo doo doo duh-doo ♪ I can't actually go, so this is how close I'll be.
[ Both laugh ] -Once you're a citizen, you'll be fine.
You'll cross whenever.
-I don't think I'll ever be a citizen, but a resident.
If I'm a resident, I can go.
Like, next year, if it gets approved, I can go back.
-You can be -- You can go if you're a resident?
-Hmm?
-You can go if you're resident?
-Yeah.
-You don't need citizenship?
-No, I don't even know, to be honest.
You confuse me.
You make me think about it.
-Well, I don't know how it works.
-My mom says yes, so I don't know.
I'll just say yes.
-My butt itches.
-I'm trying to have a moment with my Mexico.
-Oh, yeah, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
-I'm just kidding.
We're breathing the same air from another country!
Wow!
[ Sniffs ] Somebody's fart.
Somebody's Mexican fart.
♪♪♪ Make me a bird so I can fly far, far away.
No, but for reals.
Wouldn't that be so perfect?
I like to believe that I'm an astronaut in another world.
An alien to the aliens.
I would go to space and bring back a star.
I would go to space and never come back.
-"Moving on seems harder," you can step with the left.
Yeah.
And then "to do," you just bounce twice down.
So you go "to do."
Yeah, your hands stay open.
Yeah.
And you're in plié.
So, it goes, "Moving on seems harder to do."
-♪ Moving on seems harder to do ♪ ♪ When the one that you love moves faster than you ♪ ♪ I may not be over you, but I'll try inside ♪ ♪ I'm feeling better now ♪ ♪ Finally feeling special now, oh ♪ ♪ I'm coasting, I'm roller-coasting ♪ ♪ In my emotions, oh ♪ -Dude, there's ants.
-Don't kill them.
They have a family.
-Should we sit on the grass?
-No, there's gonna be more ants there.
Run, before my sister kills you!
What if we move to Canada if we don't get our papers?
We should move to, like... -Mexico.
-Mexico?
[Bleep] no.
-You don't wanna go back to Mexico?
-No, but I think, like, the universe is like pushing us.
-Yeah, like, "Go away!
Go away!"
-"Go where you belong."
-"You don't belong here."
-If you do get the papers -- -I mean, obviously, I need to get a job.
-Tell me about it.
-Wait.
Didn't you wanna go to San Antonio or Austin?
-I wanna go to San Antonio, but, like, go and train and then come back.
-Train for what?
-Dance.
-Oh.
-That's why I wanna stay here for a year and save up and then go up there once I save money.
'Cause like last month, Mom paid rent with her bingo money.
-I know.
I need to sneeze.
[ Sneezes ] -I don't want her stressing so much about money.
Like, it's time for her to enjoy her life.
Really.
Like, truly.
She spent so many years struggling and worrying about [bleep] Like, go out there, girl.
Do your thing.
-Turn up.
-Turn up.
[ Laughs ] [ "Fallback" by Verzache playing through cellphone ] -♪ I got better things on my mind ♪ -♪ I was lost ♪ -♪ Oh, I got better days on my mind ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ I had a clock but I didn't use the time ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Ran out of luck, now I gotta pay the fine ♪ ♪ Red jeans, blue nights ♪ ♪ My dreams, all the time ♪ ♪ Brown eyes, hypnotized ♪ ♪ Lose my mind, she thinks I'm like the ♪ ♪ Young kids all down and desperate ♪ ♪ And some of us been there too ♪ ♪ Better days ♪ ♪ Fall back, she said in my head ♪ ♪ And I did ♪ ♪ And I've not been sleepin' ♪ ♪ I've been going to the park every day ♪ ♪ Sitting with the birds, and I learned to meditate ♪ -Cool, cool.
-Beeeeeans.
-Cool beans.
-[ Laughs ] -I went to Family Dollar, like, two days ago to get a pregnancy test, and I kinda knew the guy who was at the register.
And he was like, "Who's pregnant?"
And I was like, "Hopefully not me!"
He was like,"Kids are a blessing."
I was like, "Mmm."
-You pregnant?
-"You don't know my nephews."
No.
-B-11, B once.
-Beyoncé.
-Beyoncé.
-"You don't know my nephews!"
-Wait.
I wanna go to Family Dollar and buy myself a charger.
-Oh, my God, really?
-Girl, just chillax.
Run fast or walk fast.
-It is hot.
Oh, have you been here?
It sucks.
-No.
It does?
-No, a little bit.
They sell makeup here.
Like, I think it's fake makeup though.
-Eh, whatever.
-But it's okay.
Like, I have fake makeup.
-No, don't say that because Jeffrey's gonna go on a rant.
-No, Jeffrey knows.
I always apologize.
-"Jala."
[ Both laugh, bell rings ] -Can I get Funyuns?
-Yes, you can.
Go get Funyuns.
Bruh.
Go get your Funyuns.
-Buh.
Dzz.
♪ Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun ♪ Did you find them?
-No, they have wires and no boxes.
Do you have a box?
-But I can't see without my glasses.
-We'll put these ones over our glasses.
-Okay.
Like this?
-♪ Leche, lechita, eh, eh ♪ ♪ Leche, lechita ♪ -♪ Walking around the Christmas tree and a happy holidays ♪ ♪ Everybody's gathering ♪ -B-6, B seis.
Please keep your voices down.
-[ Laughs ] [ Both laugh ] -First number called... Primer número.
I-23, I veintitrés.
I-30, I treinta.
O-73.
O setenta y tres.
-Bingo!
-No!
[Bleep] this [bleep] -♪ Llevarte al espacio sideral ♪ ♪ Volar como lo hace Superman ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Todas mis fuerzas se me van si estás aquí ♪ ♪ Y mis poderes no son nada ♪ ♪ Me siento tan normal ♪ ♪ Tan frágil tan real ♪ ♪ Me siento tan normal ♪ ♪ Tan frágil tan real ♪ ♪ Me elevas al espacio sideral ♪ ♪ Tal como lo hace Superman ♪ ♪♪♪ -Move that bus!
Move!
-Oh, my God.
The new house!
[ All screaming ] I love it!
Thank you so much!
Oh, my God!
Sister!
We're gonna share a room!
-I'll just fit through one of these ones.
-Ah!
-It's muddy.
Go, run!
-I'm scared of -- -We need to hide.
-Oh, no.
We left footprints.
-We left footprints.
-This is so pretty!
-What the [bleep] [ Laughter ] -What?!
-This is so pretty.
-It is.
-Look.
Wait!
-I know, dude.
-That's so nice.
This is gonna be your room.
-This is gonna be my room.
One, two, three, four.
Whoa.
This is a tiny-ass closet for my stuff.
Look!
It has high ceilings, too!
-This is so nice.
-Aw.
It's so nice.
-Look at the little lamp!
-This is gonna be my mama's room.
-The dirt's gonna get there anyways.
-Cool.
I'm so happy that there's no ants.
-Uh-oh.
I think there's a rock.
-It's the coffin.
-Dad, are you there?
-We're getting you out of here.
-[ Laughs ] You'll be out in no time.
-It should be... Oh, it's over there.
-The trash.
-Wait.
Did you take a picture?
-No, I didn't.
-I need to take a picture.
Well, we're coming back for a selfie.
-[ Laughs ] -Oh, you can see my shadow.
It's okay.
I don't have a diary.
I need to write everything in my head.
[ "Partition" by Beyoncé plays over speakers ] I wanna remember this time, last time, and next time.
I wanna remember it all with no parts missing because I appreciate even the bad times.
-♪ ...fifty-'leven girls, posted in the back ♪ ♪ Diamond fangs in my grill ♪ -I just want people to know that I had fun.
-♪ Brooklyn brim, with my eyes sittin' low ♪ ♪ Every boy in here with me got that smoke ♪ -I kinda look like a cartoon character with just one lip done, but I should -- I should probably finish.
Yeah.
Wait.
Let me look in the mirror so I can check if I did it okay.
'Cause I can't really tell.
Do I look okay?
-Yeah!
-I'm gonna add glitter.
Bye.
-Ah!
-Aah!
[ Laughter ] -Happy birthday!
-Thank you.
You guys look great.
-You look great!
Look at you.
Damn.
-I'm gonna put this on you.
-I'm already wearing a hat.
-Okay.
[ "La Frontera" by Juan Gabriel playing ] [ Indistinct scream ] -♪ En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera ♪ -Whoo!
-Whoo!
Go, go, go, go!
Ah!
Ah!
No!
Oh no!
-Whoo!
-♪ La frontera es muy padre, Julión ♪ ♪ Es como un sol, todo lo ve ♪ ♪ La luna sale ♪ -[ Screaming ] -♪ Sale guapa y sale llena de amor ♪ ♪ Aquí todo es diferente ♪ ♪ Y esto es gracias a la gente ♪ -♪ Bom, ba-dum, bom, bom, bom ♪ What?
Do you see that?
-What does it say?
-We should abort that sign.
-We should abort that sign!
-Pray to end abortion sign.
-Should I wear this blue thing?
No?
-We need to be all black.
-Everyone knows I had an abortion.
-Does your mom know?
[ Laughter ] -She will.
She will after this.
-Alberto.
-Wanna search it up before I put it?
-Yes.
You see?
Come on.
I come from Mexicos.
Put glitter on it.
Wait!
My sweater!
[Bleep] -I'm sorry.
-Yes.
-I wanna cover my ears.
-Oh.
Why?
-I don't know.
-Suspect has small ears.
-[ Chuckles ] -Suspects are two small males and one very tall female.
-I saw a camera.
-There's one right there.
Beba, there's one right there!
-I know, but we already walked.
-[ Whispering ] Go.
Run.
-[ Whispering ] Look out.
-[ Laughs ] -[ Panting ] ♪♪♪ -I used to think I would see ghosts.
And I would be too scared to sleep by myself.
My grandma taught me to yell at them if they bothered me.
Can't be scared if you make them scared of you first.
♪♪♪ The police!
I'm scared.
-No, Silvia, stop.
I'm illegal.
[ Laughter ] I miss going out of town in this truck.
-Dude, I would always go 90 on the [bleep] freeway!
-Dude, we came back from San Antonio in like an hour.
Your mom was, like, "¿Dónde estás?"
and we were like... -Oh, yeah, 'cause she wanted me to [bleep] take care of the kids!
-Yes!
-And we were in San Antonio!
-You got there so fast.
-Yeah, I remember that.
-Dude, like an hour.
My mom didn't know I was [bleep] out there getting an abortion, bro.
The first time you yelled at me I could not understand your lips.
You were so quiet after I thought it was a mistake.
The anger kept spilling out of you and I drank it in.
And our wants are bigger than our needs.
So as much as I felt like I needed to kill myself.
I also wanted to be there for you.
Your voice crashed into me like a ship without a lighthouse to guide it.
I could trace your jawline with my eyes closed.
Smell the talent on your collar bone.
I loved you more furiously than any being had done before.
So the first time you yelled at me I could not understand your lips.
You were so quiet after I thought it was a mistake.
The anger kept spilling out of you and I drank it in.
I became a white angel turned to ash and you pushed away at the thought of hurting my ability to fly, so you cut my wings off.
Said there would be no flying while I was still here.
I was not prepared for the kind of evil we would become.
If I had learned to peel myself from you.
If I had learned to be prepared for the violence.
Watch you make art yet destroy a person with the same hands.
I did not understand your hands!
You tried killing me.
You hurt me in so many different ways.
You made me wear my broken heart on my sleeve!
Told me to be proud of the pain, proud of the scars you had left on me.
♪♪♪ The distance I was willing to fly for you and you refused to change.
♪♪♪ [ Horn honks ] -Hey!
-Ooh.
Oh, [bleep] [Bleep] Nope.
There's just no way in.
Let's go around.
Maybe there'll be another weaker window.
I saw a bus today.
Like those jail buses that, like, drive into the detention centers.
-Mm-hmm.
I wish there was something we could do.
I feel like...
I feel like a lotta times that could've been me or you.
'Cause Mom got deported...
So, I just feel like I'm kinda happy that that wasn't us.
Yeah.
It wasn't that bad when I got deported.
I was in a cell for like a whole night.
-That's crazy.
I don't remember too much.
-But I was asleep most of the time 'cause my mom made me go to sleep.
-Aww.
-Yeah.
But it wasn't like that bad.
Like, I just remember them putting us in the truck.
I remember them putting us in a truck, and everyone was crying.
And I was crying, too, and I was telling my mom, "But I wanna go to school here!"
And I was like, "What about my trophies?
My perfect attendance?!"
Like, I was a fifth grader.
And I was like, "My perfect attendance!
I don't wanna go to Mexico!"
-Oh, no.
-It was funny.
But, yeah, it was just super sad.
But I was over there for a little bit of time, and then I came back again.
-Yeah.
-Huh.
[ Both chuckle ] [ Both laugh ] You go first 'cause you're from America.
-[ Laughs ] Wow, America.
Wow, America!
-Shhh!
-What are y'all doing here?
-Stop.
That scared me.
It didn't sound like you.
-I'm good at impersonations.
-Impersh-oh-nations.
-Same.
This is the only sand I get to see.
You're stepping on Mexican sand.
Let's get some and take it to my mom.
Mom, do you remember?
Do you remember this?
-Do you remember?
-You touched it!
Once upon a time.
-That's Border Patrol.
-That is Border Patrol.
-If they're like, "Hey, show me your papers," I'll be like -- -Like, if they ask me -- -No, you show me the Carfax.
-You show me the Carfax.
-Show me your [bleep] Sorry!
-Show me [bleep] Show me [bleep] or get the [bleep] out.
[ Laughter ] What if we just sneak into the big building?
We go on top of the roof?
-Which one?
-This building.
The big one.
The biggest one, through the stairs.
-Oh, do you want to?
-But it's too big.
-You think so?
-I've never done it before.
-Who's done it before that you know of?
-Tony.
-Okay.
Wait.
Let these cars pass.
[ Club music plays in distance, upbeat music plays in van ] ♪♪♪ [ Both laugh ] [ Siren wails in distance ] -[ Laughs ] -Shake my hand.
-Whoa.
-Shake my hand.
-[ Laughs ] -You have to go like this.
-Wait.
-Shake my hand.
Okay, wait.
-[Bleep] Do I have rights now?
[ Both laugh ] -Whoo whoo whoo whoo whoo whoo whoo whoo!
Am I flying?
-Whoa!
Look at me!
Look at me!
Whoo!
-Sorry.
If you're in the hospital, flash your light!
-How do we get in there?!
-Oh!
He's over there!
-[ Screams ] I see you!
-Are you cute?
-Do you ever get nervous?!
Do you wanna go on a date?!
-Do you have a green card?
I need one!
Come save us!
-Do you know SOS?
-No.
-Okay, look, it's -- -One, two, three.
-One, two, three.
One... two...three.
One, two, three.
That's SOS.
-♪ Da da da da da da da da ♪ -♪ Da da da da da da da da ♪ [ Both laugh ] [ Fireworks popping ] -Whoo!
-They're so pretty!
-They're so pretty!
-Love you, America!
-No, México!
México!
México!
México!
México!
[ Fireworks exploding ] -iViva México!
-♪ Boom boom ♪ -♪ Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon ♪ ♪ It's always been inside of you, you, you ♪ -Aah!
[ Fireworks continue ] -The backyard is different now.
The cactus are gone, the shrubs of pink petals trimmed away.
The orange tree died.
Now it's all concrete and a nice brick fireplace my mom had built.
Home is a place, but it's also a feeling, like being understood without having to talk.
The smell of carne asada every weekend.
The faint sounds of reggaeton as cars drive by.
My face, siempre tierroso.
The laughter of my siblings, arguments with my mother.
Summer nights with Estefanía.
I miss it all.
[ Whispering ] She's still talking.
-I know.
-I've already told you.
Like, you put a restraining order.
You can put charges... Bye.
-What are you gonna wear?
-A thong.
-Okay.
-I found them!
-You did?
-Yep.
Let's take a selfie.
These are it, right?
Let's make a video.
-Okay.
-We both walk in, and we say it at the same time.
One, two, three, go.
-Hi.
Welcome to Chili's.
-Hi.
Welcome to Chili's.
-[ Laughs ] [ Both laugh ] -When ICE comes to your house!
[ Both laugh ] -Let me see it.
[ Both laugh ] -When you find out you're pregnant.
-Oh, wait.
When I found out I was pregnant, I was like this.
Aha.
[ Laughs ] My mom, I asked her, like, what was the plan?
Like, I said, like, if you -- 'Cause it was like I told her -- Like, she said something about wanting to go to, like, South Padre and, like, wanting to go out of town, like, regardless, and I said like, "That's not a very smart idea."
-That's when she could get deported.
-Only 'cause, like, I just felt like, I don't know.
-It's like she's looking for it.
-Yeah!
I was like, "You're putting yourself in a position where you're gonna get caught."
-Yeah.
-And we talked about it, and I said, "Look.
I'm totally for if you wanna do this, but what's the plan?
Like, what happens if you get taken?
Like, what am I supposed to do?"
'Cause I already know she's gonna want me to take care of my siblings.
-Yeah.
-And, like, I can't do that here.
It's super expensive.
They can't stay at my apartment.
I can't feed all of them.
Grandma always asks about you.
She cried when she saw me 'cause she really missed me.
You know how Dad wasn't letting us cross 'cause he was like... -Yeah.
-...scared or something.
-Mm.
I miss her.
-Those guys are looking at us.
-I know.
-What's up?
[Bleep] -This churro's hard.
-It is hard.
It's super sad.
-I don't want it.
Here.
-I don't want it either.
Want some of my hot chocolate?
-Sure.
-It's Abuelita.
-It's nice.
-I don't like that she does that to you 'cause she used to do that to me all the time with Miguel.
And with you.
I used to take care of you all the time.
I learned how to change diapers when I was little.
They taught me how to cook, how to clean, de volada.
I felt like I didn't have a chance to be my age 'cause I always had to take care of you guys.
-Mm-hmm.
Same.
[ Animal calling ] -Ah!
Ah!
-Look at that!
-Oh!
What the [bleep] It's a possum!
-Oh.
[ Dog barking ] It's so ugly!
-Yo!
I thought it was a cat.
-No!
It's a possum!
-Eww!
No, I never seen one.
-You've never seen one?
-I got it from you.
-Look at it.
Look at it.
-Ew!
-It's just living its life, and then these dogs are barking at it.
And she's like, "Yeah, yeah.
Whatever.
I'm, like, leaving."
Did you know that possums carry their babies on their back?
-♪ Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo ♪ -♪ Baby Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo ♪ -Have you seen my keys?
Marissa?
-They're in the cocina.
-♪ Mommy Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo... ♪ -How long are your sisters gonna be here?
-Hey, don't hit the cat.
Don't hit the cat.
-♪ Mommy Shark ♪ -♪ Daddy Shark, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo ♪ And it's in Spanish.
-No!
[ Both laugh ] What is that?
This sounds like something Planned Parenthood asked me when I was getting my abortion.
But right in front of him.
-These pamphlets are so good.
-Like, if you were to get pregnant now, what are the steps you'd have to take if you have an unplanned pregnancy and you wanted an abortion?
-Yeah.
-Like, who you can call, who you can e-mail, where you can make an appointment, where you can go.
We're gonna have -- It's kind of like a... kind of like knowing your legal rights.
I'm really tired and I'm really nervous 'cause I don't know.
I don't know.
I just feel like I'm not gonna get taken seriously.
I'm like 18.
What do I know?
-Why wouldn't you though?
Like, the people that go, they go because they know it's serious.
So, why wouldn't they take you seriously?
-♪ All by myself but I need you ♪ ♪ I need you, I need you ♪ Marissa?
Huh?
Wanna help me?
-Are we gonna put them in the back?
-Yeah.
-Back back?
-Yeah, the back back.
Oh, look.
Baby bottle.
We know that in our community it's really hard to get people to come out and learn about these kinds of things.
So, we wanna spread the awareness, let people know where they can get resources, where they can get checkups, affordable birth control.
We wanna help our community get to these places.
[ Applause ] ♪♪♪ Estefanía always smelled like the best perfume at Victoria's Secret.
Like tamales and pineapple empanadas that we would steal from her mom.
That green apple slushie that they had at Sonic with the Jolly Rancher pieces or, you know, sometimes Nerds.
Menthol cigarettes.
Grape Swishers.
♪♪♪ -Are you ready for your future?
-Yeah.
Okay, sure.
-Very interesting.
-What?
-It says that you're gonna die.
-What?!
-No, I'm just kidding.
-[ Gasps ] Caes mal, what does it mean?
-You may have a painful memory, and rather than dealing with the emotions, you push them down deep into your subconscious.
The moon often comes out when you're projecting fear into your present and your future based on your past experiences.
-I get that.
I feel like that's a lot of my past.
-Yeah.
Well, keep in mind that this is the past.
-Yeah.
-So, like, you know?
It's gone and done.
You can't really change your past.
-Yeah.
-Should we move on to present?
Yes, we should.
-Magician.
I feel like this means that regardless of what happens, you'll probably be happy just 'cause you make the best of it, you know?
-Mm.
-I feel like that's kind of what... what we have to do 'cause, you know, it can't always be like sunshines and rainbows.
I mean... -The world's ending anyways.
-Yeah.
-Future.
-Wheel of fortune.
This card shows why it is so important to cherish the blissful moments in your life and make the most of them while they are within reach, because in a flash, they could be gone.
-Hmm.
-What does that mean?
-Nothing.
We're just asking questions.
-Yeah.
-Tarot is about self-reflection.
You're supposed to ask questions.
-Will I be wealthy?
-[ Laughs ] For reals?
-Yes!
I wanna know if I'll have money!
-Oh, my God.
-You wanted interesting questions, right?
-Okay.
Okay.
-Okay.
-I mean, I think we all wanna be rich, so... -I hope it says that I'm gonna be so [bleep] rich.
-We all wanna be rich.
-Yeah.
-But not all of us are born into the... the life of, you know, wealth.
-Yeah.
I mean.
-Deep.
Mm.
-Thank you.
Thank you.
-I mean, I'm pretty sure it's obvious.
We're sitting here with, like, a $10 book finding out about our future.
-With candles that we stole!
-Yeah.
[ Laughter ] [ "Pursuit of Happiness (Remix)" by Kid Cudi playing ] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ -♪ Tell me what you know about dreamin', dreamin' ♪ ♪ You don't really know about nothin', nothin' ♪ ♪ Tell me what you know about the night terrors every night ♪ ♪ Five a.m., cold sweats, waking up to the sky ♪ ♪♪♪ -Hey, hey, hey, hey!
♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know ♪ ♪ Everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold ♪ ♪ Hey, I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good ♪ ♪ I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know ♪ ♪ Everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold ♪ ♪ Hey, I'll be fine once I get it ♪ -♪ I'll be good!
♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ [ Screaming and laughter ] -Ay no, the man's coming.
-Oh, no.
-Protect me.
-Body shots, sir?
-[ Laughs ] [ Laughter ] -Wait!
Stop!
Stop!
My ass!
[ Horn honking ] -Hold my raspa.
Hold my raspa.
Hold my raspa!
-I could just get off.
-No, no.
We have to do this.
We've come too far.
No mames, no!
[ Laughter ] -Everyone stares at us like they've never seen a guy in a cart with a flag and purple hair and two girls pushing him.
-Accept our local gays!
Accept our local gays!
Accept our local gays!
Accept our local gays!
-Last one's a Republican!
-[Bleep] that [bleep] [ Laughter ] -One time in elementary, I won $100.
I only won because I wrote an essay about my dad, and I just made it really sad.
-Oh, no.
-And I won, and they took me to Target.
And this was in fourth grade, and there I was in Target.
And they took us to like a Chick-fil-A that was there.
And we were eating, and then this guy comes up to me and my mom, and he's like, "Oh, like, um, what is your dream?
Like, what do you, like, if you could... like if you..." What was it?
Like, "What would you ask for?"
And I was like, "I wanna meet the Jonas Brothers!"
Then he was like, "Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
We'll make that happen."
And I haven't met the Jonas Brothers.
Did you ever go to, like, Navidad en El Barrio?
-Yeah.
-Oh, my God, me too!
-They would give us Christmas presents.
-Yes.
-Oh!
I would go there too!
-Me too!
-My parents could never afford presents.
-Me neither.
-And one time they bought me Blendy Pens 'cause I really wanted them.
And they had to return them the next day.
-Why?!
-'Cause we needed money for food.
-Ah, that's so sad!
-That happens to me a lot where, like, I would -- I'd get like, a laptop from this, like, program or like a tablet or an iPod, and my mom would, like, pawn it right away 'cause it's like, we need money.
-Me too, I think -- Yeah.
-I wish I was a kid again.
-I don't think I got a lotta time to be a kid.
-I don't think so either.
I feel like -- I feel like I already had, like, bad [bleep] start happening when I was younger.
Like, it wouldn't make me cry, and it wasn't until I said it out loud to someone that I started kinda like bawling my eyes out.
And I was like, "Oh, my God."
Like, "Why does this bother me so much if it didn't bother me back then?"
-Yeah.
We always talk about our problems.
-Yeah, we do.
-But it's good, it's good.
It's like I can't afford therapy, so you guys are my therapy.
-Yeah.
[ Laughter ] -1900 is this guy who was born on a ship and never stepped foot on land, ever.
He was already 20-something and everyone convinced him to get off.
As he was about to get off, he stared at the city and ran straight back on the ship.
He had lived on the ship for so long that he would stand up straight and steady in storms while everyone else was stumbling.
Laredo is my ship.
[ Laughter ] You look like a hummingbird!
Go like this!
[ Laughter continues ] -I am superstitious.
-What happens if we separated?
-Like, through the pole?
I hear that that's bad luck.
-Yeah, me too.
-They always tell me.
They're like, "Yeah, don't separate between, like, items, because then, like, you, like, you'll never speak to that person again."
-Do you like Laredo?
-I feel like I do.
Like, I wanna help it.
Like, I wanna give to my community, right?
-Yeah.
-But I feel like I should leave and, like, get educated first.
-But you'll come back, right?
-Well, yeah, obviously.
-They're selling tamales here.
-Shut up.
-Yeah, they are.
-Maybe I buy tamales?
-Maybe you buy tamales.
You should ask.
-Should I ask?
Wait.
How much do I have?
Wait, wait.
Let me check how much cash I have.
I have... -I wish I had more money.
-I have 10 bucks.
No, wait.
I have 10 bucks and 20 pesos.
-That's how you gonna be when we get home.
-Super moist?
-Good to grow, good to go.
-"One size fits most."
It's probably not gonna fit me.
Where are you gonna want it, for realsies?
-How big are you thinking of doing it?
-Tiny.
Like quarter size.
-"American jobs."
Yeah, well, you also profit off of immigration, so... -Half of these people are Mexican.
-Yep.
-Walmart no vale verga.
We should steal.
-We always do that.
-I know we do.
-Sí.
-What?
Oh, what?
-[ Laughs ] -What?!
I guess they do love Mexicans.
-[ Laughs ] -All I'm gonna bring now is pesos.
Do you think maybe she was lying, and she's gonna put her two cents in?
-I don't know, maybe.
-Maybe.
I don't know how much 20 pesos is worth.
-Do you want tamales?
-Yes.
I'm [bleep] hungry.
I just wanna eat.
-Oh, no.
-What?
-It tastes kinda bad.
-No, don't tell me that!
-May I take your order?
-Hi.
Can I have a #1 medium combo with avocado?
-With cheese?
-Yes.
-To drink?
-What do you want to drink?
-Orange Fanta.
-Can I have orange Fanta?
-♪ My friends are in the bathroom ♪ ♪ Getting higher than the Empire State ♪ ♪ My lover, she's waiting for me just across the bar ♪ ♪ My seat's been taken by some sunglasses asking 'bout a scar ♪ ♪ And I know I gave it to you months ago ♪ ♪ I know you're trying to forget ♪ ♪ But between the things and subtle things ♪ ♪ And the holes in my apology, I'm... ♪ ♪ Trying hard to take it back ♪ ♪ So if by the time the bar closes ♪ ♪ And you feel like falling down ♪ ♪ I'll carry you home toniiiight ♪ ♪ We are young ♪ -One #1?
-Thank you.
-♪ So let's set the world on fire ♪ ♪ We can glow brighter than the sun ♪ ♪ Whoa whoa-oh-oh ♪ [ Thunder crashes ] -I don't think it will take very long with this 'cause... -Oh.
At first, I was like, "The beak."
But I think the beak's fine.
Oh, super nice!
Thank God.
I have, like, cut scars, and you, like, covered it.
-Oh, cool!
-Thank you.
I always notice them, and I'm, like, sad, but now I'm like, ay, this looks pretty what I wanted.
Oh!
You're so strong!
A la verga.
A la... [ Laughter ] [ Laughter continues ] Hazte más pa' acá.
-I'm gonna fly out.
Whoa!
♪♪♪ I read about this thing that can stop you from feeling pain.
So, what you do is you close your eyes, you think about where you're feeling pain, and repeat, "Five, five, five, one, five."
I told Silvia to try this when I was tattooing them.
It still hurt, but I don't know.
Maybe they weren't doing it right.
-Like, what did you de-- like, when did you decide that I was your best friend?
-'Cause you had a car.
-Oh, wow!
-When we started hanging out, I wasn't myself yet.
-Yeah.
No, same.
-And then it took, like, a long time for me to, like, do my stupid laugh or, like, just be ugly with you.
[ Dog barking, siren wails in distance ] [ Water splashes ] -[ Gurgling ] -Octopus.
-P. -Penis.
-Q.
-Queen.
-[ Laughs ] R. -Relax.
-S. -Seymour.
-T. -Taxes.
-U.
-Usted.
-V. -Vete.
-W. -[ Laughs ] War.
-X.
-Xylophone.
-Y.
-Yellow.
-And Z. Zebra.
[ Both laugh ] -My turn.
I'm gonna do this.
-Okay.
Ready?
A.
-A la verga.
[ Both laugh ] -That doesn't count!
-♪ I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you ♪ ♪ And I don't wanna fall in love ♪ ♪ And I don't wanna fall in love ♪ ♪ With you ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Ooh-ooooooh, ooh-ooh ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ So break down them bridges, dig up them bones ♪ ♪ What's that you got?
♪ ♪ 'Cause I'll have one of those ♪ ♪ And, Darcy, I could never hate you if I tried ♪ ♪ In this cyclone ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ You're on your own ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ In this cyclone ♪ [ Razor buzzing ] I will never stop until I get to your skin.
♪ The sky looks like a rainbow ♪ -My hair is dry already!
-I see little blonde spots.
-Really?
It's okay.
-Over here and... -Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
-I'm gonna slap you harder.
-Wait.
Ah!
The raspero.
Hey!
I find comfort in a love that I could never resent.
And even though I was not able to find it in a life that was once inside my stomach, I found it in a woman who shared the same pains.
We held each other's hands as life seeped out of our wombs.
It is a love that understands.
Tells me about the skeletons she has buried in the yard but never asks me to dig them out, just to listen.
And even though we never talk about the sadness, we laugh through moments that could've been the end of us.
And when we look back at the road that took us there, we wonder who were the people who were really ever there for us, and then we turn to each other.
I realize she is the first person I have ever loved so innocently in such traumatic events.
I just loved her sometimes.
And when I finally break down into her arms, she holds me and says, "At least we're still alive."
[ Both laugh ] -It's so beautiful.
I'm gonna cry.
Like, my eyes are tearing up.
-I can see!
-I'm like... [ Both laugh ] I wanna cry too.
It's okay.
I'm glad you liked it.
-Oh, I love it.
I wanna like -- I want you to type it up and put in a big poster.
-I'll do that for your birthday.
-Yeah.
It's coming up.
-I'm serious.
I know.
-So, you better get that ready.
'Cause I wanna wake up every morning and look at it and cry a little bit.
-Oh, my goodness.
-The last one's a Republican.
I shouldn't have said that 'cause I'm gonna be last.
[ Both laugh ] Oh.
Ow.
Ow.
-I want cherry.
-I want cherry.
-Oooh!
-Oooh!
That looks so good.
-Do you wanna split hot Cheetos with cheese?
-Yes.
Oh.
Here you go.
-Thank you.
Mmm!
Taste it.
-Oh, it tastes good.
[ "Pa Mí (Remix)" playing on car radio ] -♪ No te confundas con mi flow, Rosario Tijeras ♪ ♪ Que por más que parezco mala, no estoy pa' cualquiera ♪ ♪ No soy la más que le mete, ni tampoco la más bonita ♪ ♪ Pero le gustó el piquete, el flow de esta mamacita ♪ ♪ Ni Gucci ni Prada, ningún Louis Vuitton ♪ ♪ No quiero nada de eso, pon tu habitación ♪ -It's coming back.
♪♪♪ -♪ What would be the last thing you wanna see?
♪ ♪ Would you be okay if we left the world like this?
♪ ♪ Climb the ship and we can run away ♪ ♪ Find another place in the Milky Way ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ If we're gone tomorrow, what would you repeat?
♪ ♪ If we had more time, would you even think of me?
♪ ♪ Would you even wanna be saved?
♪ ♪ Maybe this will take the gray away ♪ ♪ What would be the last thing you wanna see?
♪ ♪ Would you be okay if we left the world like this?
♪ ♪ Climb the ship and we can run away ♪ ♪ Find another place in the Milky Way ♪ ♪♪♪ -The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are expected to collide in around 4-5 billion years, merging to form a giant elliptical galaxy.
-We're cutting.
Sound department!
Camera.
-It's time to de-mic, putos!
♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪
Video has Closed Captions
Trailer for Estefanía “Beba” Contreras and Silvia Del Carmen Castaños' film Hummingbirds. (1m 46s)
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