Miguel A. Sierra Bartolomei

In 1950s Puerto Rico, Luz confronts the loss of her baby in silence while trying to reconstruct her life in a society determined to make and judge all of her decisions.

The Water Protectors is a student-made documentary pilot that briefly explores the topics of hyper development, unregulated sewage disposal, contamination, climate change, and community action in the west coast of Puerto Rico through initiatives led by Surfrider Foundation Rincón—an organization that works alongside volunteers to study, preserve, and defend local water sources through education, activism and community partnerships.

Based on the prologue of When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago, this short film narrates the experience of Esmeralda, a young woman who, upon coming across a familiar object in the supermarket, navigates a sea of memories, recounting her early experiences in Puerto Rico. Through her senses, she awakens fleeting diasporic feelings.