Adrián Ortiz Maciel

Inside the elevators of the oldest multi-family residential building in Latin America, life goes by quickly. Bodies and stories crowd together in front of the elevator operators’ eyes in the small metal box. Elevator operators are spectators, guardians and confidants. They are the ones who know the living history of the buildings.

This documentary tells three stories of exclusion from leisure in Mexico: a family’s visit to Plaza Tlaxcoaque during Holy Week, residents of Puerto Aventuras restricted from the beaches, and the impact of violence on the free time of Ciudad Juárez inhabitants. Each story explores how social, economic, and political forces shape access to rest and recreation.