AFF Preview: Road to Tlacotepec

Road to Tlacotepec follows Austin director Brendt Mader around as he travels in the footsteps of his father, a well-known photographer and photojournalist, whose recent death leaves a family in traction. In an effort to connect with his father's past, Mader embarks on a trip to a small Mexican village where his father and mother spent time in their young, married lives.

The goal is to arrive at Tlacotepec, a small Mexican village that in '66, when Mader's parents first arrived, required a 28 kilometer hike in. Once there, Mader will shoot the last ten shots from his father's camera. He has fond memories of his father's stories about the place, even if it seems his siblings do not.

A good entry from an up and coming local filmmaker, Mader's archived some impressive footage and photography, though maybe a few cuts for pacing would have worked for the better. The crisp, jaw-droppingly beautiful Mexican countryside serves as a stunning backdrop.