I Dream in Another Language attempts a great deal, though it doesn’t always succeed. The film contains promising concepts, but falters in bringing them to life effectively. Its visuals are undeniably beautiful, which could be considered a strength if you believe images can convey more than words—though it also raises the question of style overshadowing substance, particularly given that the story concerns language itself. Despite its shortcomings, I found myself drawn to the movie because director Ernesto Contreras and screenwriter Carlos Contreras clearly demonstrate an appreciation for communication and how we use language, even though they seem unsure of how to fully articulate it themselves. It’s as if something was lost when translating a vision from imagination into the final product. The narrative centers on a made-up indigenous language called Zikril. While other aspects exist within the plot, this is by far the most compelling element, but ultimately feels like an opportunity that wasn't fully realized. I only recognized two words of Zikril; the remainder was just indistinct sounds—and it’s not due to poor audio or acting; as someone who speaks Spanish natively, I can confirm that the dialogue in that language is perfectly understandable. We don't gain much insight into the culture behind Zikril either, beyond some mythological explanations about its origins and what happens to its speakers after death: a tangible place on a mountain called “El Encanto,” where they apparently ascend physically, not just spiritually—the film aligns with magical realism traditions, notably echoing Alejo Carpentier’s Los Pasos Perdidos, which it references but doesn't quite reach. The film, filmed in the Veracruz jungle, does capture what Werner Herzog has described as the ‘voodoo of location.’ Overall, I Dream in Another Language is captivating enough to maintain a viewer's attention during its 103-minute length; however, perhaps the filmmakers would have been better off using an existing, albeit lesser-known, language rather than inventing one from scratch.

Source on TMDB