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Sundance Debut 'Jaripeo' Illuminates Queer Lives in Mexico's Rodeo Culture

Critics describe an atmospheric, experimental portrait of men negotiating machismo at Michoacán’s jaripeos.

Overview

  • Directed by Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig, the hybrid documentary premiered in Sundance’s NEXT strand.
  • Set in Michoacán, the film observes how some men use jaripeo festivities for discreet cruising and clandestine encounters.
  • Its form leans on Super 8 inserts, stylized fantasia, and a strobe-lit cornfield sequence, paired with an electronic–norteño score by Emilia Ezeta and Marton Radics.
  • Portraits include Noé, a soft-spoken rancher drawn to solitude and brief connections, and Joseph, a more openly femme presence within local queer circles.
  • Early reviews praise the immersive mood and candid dialogue while noting a surface-level approach; the U.S.–FranceMexico co-production is from Survivance and JCPR&C, with no distribution details yet reported.