Yurei (Ghosts)
(Yūrei (fantasmas))
Sumie García | Documentary
2024 | 83 minutes | Mexico
The history of Japanese Mexicans and the impact of historical silence on their descendants, portrayed in testimonies, landscapes, and choreography.
Synopsis
The little-known history of Japanese Mexicans, and the enduring impact of historical silence on their descendants, is portrayed through testimonies, landscapes, and choreography, questioning the formation and theatricality of individual and collective identity. When all that is left of history are vague memories, how do invisible wounds heal? Yūrei travels to different parts of Mexico, moving toward an intimate and sensory exploration of memory.
Reviews
“Traces with poetic delicacy but also with historical rigor, a fascinating bundle of “nikkei” stories.” — Ernesto Diezmartínez, Letras Libres
“Sumie García Hirata's proposal has the rare quality of being formally rigorous, making experimental formal decisions and, despite this, communicating with a wide audience.” — Sergio Huidobro, La Tempestad
“Yūrei suggests that the exercise of memory does not overcome or replace nostalgia. The haunting is stronger because ghosts are an inheritance.”— Alonso Díaz de la Vega, Gatopardo
“The exceptional execution of this audiovisual exercise allows the director to reformulate the foundations of her own identity as a descendant of migrants, while giving voice to other members of the community, removing them from anonymity. (…) Yūrei manages to move from a traditional documentary format to an intimate and sensorial exploration, which is why this exercise is not to be missed.”—Lily Droeven, Letras Libres
Citation
Coming soon.
Cataloging
A MARC record for this title is not available yet.
Pragda subjects
Culture + Identity
History
Latin American Studies
Migration Studies
North America
Race + Ethnicity
Sociology
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Morelia International Film Festival; Rencontres du Cinéma Latino-Américain Bordeaux; FICUNAM - TV UNAM Award Winner; Asian American International Film Festival; Special Mention José Rovirosa Award UNAM
DIRECTOR: Sumie García
NATIONALITY: Mexico
YEAR: 2024
GENRE: Documentary
LANGUAGE: Spanish; Japanese; Other languages
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adult
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.
Related Collections

Documentary Chronicles
A truthful examination and captivating glimpse into the complexities of the region.
Number of titles: 472
SEE COLLECTION >
Immigration and Exile
A captivating exploration of migration and exile experiences.
Number of titles: 136
SEE COLLECTION >
Mexican Films
A collection of fascinating titles, from recent films to restored jewels, that highlight the significance of Mexican cinema’s quality and status while encompassing different aspects of the country's culture and traditions.
Number of titles: 86
SEE COLLECTION >
Spanish Language Films
A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.
Number of titles: 550
SEE COLLECTION >
Women's Voices
These films challenge dominant narratives and offer compelling feminine visions of the region's past, present, and future.
Number of titles: 288
SEE COLLECTION >