Although Jayro Bustamante’s directorial debut speaks directly to contemporary issues facing Guatemala’s indigenous population, it also has the feel of a timeless tale extolling the perils of young love. María is a 17-year-old girl who lives with her parents on a coffee plantation at the foot of an active volcano. Betrothed to her father’s boss, the foreman of the plantation, María nonetheless promises her heart to Pepe, a poor laborer who dreams of escaping to the land beyond the volcano: America. One fateful night, the young lovers act upon their passions, changing the course of María’s life forever. 

Nashville: April 12 at Vanderbilt University. Free admission.