ISLANDOFSWALLOWS

Act I

Bright orange birds chirp at each other as part of their morning routine while Germán Méndez fries a couple of fresh eggs in his kitchen, styled with large Mexican tiles. He lives isolated in the jungle of Cozumel, Yucatán—the only island in Mexico with a jungle. Not a single sound of civilization, and Germán couldn’t be happier.

His grueling work consists of endless efforts to revive the long-forgotten reefs. His face is marked with deep grief—he’s seen firsthand the demise of the corals over the last 30 years. We follow him through his restoration site as the tragic story of Cozumel’s ecological disaster unfolds.

Across the Gulf of Mexico, a family with two children slam their doors and trip over oversized suitcases as they rush to a taxi waiting by the curb. A long-awaited holiday for the parents and an ecstatic adventure for the children. Soon, they’ll board a cruise ship—larger than the buildings lining the Miami skyline.

Act III

The family, there to enjoy an escape on a tropical island, watches in dismay as they realize they’ve stepped into a wildlife cemetery. The question stands: with such limited options, are they really the problem? Their ignorance, their plea for a simple vacation, their fantasy of a foreign land.

Yet in weary steps, Germán’s attitude begins to shift. Beneath his critical remarks about the tourists, we glimpse a kind soul. Ultimately, it’s clear he wishes for the health of the land for all of us—it’s one man’s battle against a system so large, perhaps no single individual can stop it anymore.

The family and Germán share still moments. They laugh and reflect. Soon, the family departs. The return trip on the cruise feels familiar, but now through a different lens. They step back onto the soil of home, preparing for another day of work—their escape now over.

Germán wakes up to another day in the jungle. The birds chirp at the sight of their neighbor. The dogs chase chickens through the yard. He puts on his helmet, and we follow hitm along his daily route on his scooter. He nods at fellow islanders working food stalls, serving tourists.

Though he knows there is no easy escape from a system locked into society, he perseveres. For he does not aim to stop—until he sees his own children beneath the water saved.