Before I get into this review, I want to preface ot by stating the obvious. I am a cis, straight, white man, so if I unintentionally offend anyone by using incorrect terminology, please reach out to me on our instagram, tiktok or even just comment below and I will happily make adjustments.

Going in, I really did not know what Buscando  Alma was about. And coming out of it, I was left a blubbering mess, with happy tears, so if you want the film to have a little mystery, I’d suggest seeling it out and not reading any further. But if you want to know more, we’ll you’ve been warned.

The premise is as follows:

“A Honduran immigrant is given the chance to meet her mother after nearly two decades of separation. As she grapples with the uncertainty of their reunion, she is confronted by tumultuous memories of her past and the fact that she might not be what her mother was expecting.“

Carolina Gutierrez turns in such an emotional performance as the lead role. Bringing a mix of bravery, fear, and vulnerability. I simply couldn’t understand the fear of being separated from a family member for over two decades and then reunite with them after coming out as trans. It truly is nothing I could fathom, but this film let ne peak into that reality, and if only for a moment, I generally felt that fear of rejection.

But isn’t that why we have stories, so we may see lives that we otherwise would never live?

So, to put this into perspective, this film had me a straight white dude, fully invested in the story of a trans immigrant from Honduras. But like I said that’s the magic of great story telling.

Behind all this magic is director Melissa Fisher, and now that I’ve seen this, i need to see more of her work. Melissa Fisher has given us this beautiful yet isolating tale that hit me right in the feels.

Buscando Alma translates to searching for the soul, and I think that this simple phrase perfectly encapsulates the powerful imagery of this piece of art. A truly emotional story, with gorgeous cinematography and strong performances, it’s no wonder this film qualified for the 2025 OSCARS.