This film is genuinely hard to experience. The story focuses on three teenage girls existing within Mexico’s poppy fields. Ana (Maria Membreño), Paula (Alejandro Camacho), and Maria (Giselle Barrera Sánchez) attempt to maintain some semblance of normalcy, but the departure of their schoolteacher—due to a refusal to pay protection money to drug dealers—provides an early signal about the environment they inhabit. It’s …

The English title feels manipulative, like it’s trying too hard to evoke emotion. The performances are genuinely remarkable, though. Because of the pandemic, my family and I have lived in Mexico for an extended period. This narrative reflects certain realities found in some parts of the country. It's a devastating portrayal of a true horror story. Sadly, it’s accurate that some communities experience this kind of…