虚空北境

When Rosa is tasked with delivering the sunscreen to Don Reynaldo on his deer hunt, it feels like a significant moment—a harbinger of change for this tightly-knit community. The Don's expansive ranch is preparing to celebrate its farm anniversary, a milestone that should evoke joy and pride. However, beneath the surface, the image he projects as a passionate hunter is built upon a foundation of deceit. In the countryside where men are expected to be stoic and unyielding, employees like Rosa are often seen as loyal subjects who tirelessly maintain the status quo. Despite her lowly position, Rosa’s daily routine of being ordered around goes largely unnoticed by those within her class-conscious environment. Yet, through small but persistent acts of defiance and subtle resistance, she gradually transforms from a mere employee into an agent of change. As Don Reynaldo's extended family struggles to preserve the old order, new faces begin to emerge on the ranch. Pickup trucks filled with men arrive unexpectedly at the celebration, their presence alone sending ripples through the social fabric. The appearance of these outsiders and the implicit threat they carry are enough to instill a sense of fear in the aging patriarch, Don Reynaldo. This fear compels him into action, though his efforts to maintain control may be futile against the incoming tide of change. The animals, often seen as mere trophies or livestock, seem to sense the end of an era. Whether hanging on the walls as hunting trophies or grazing peacefully in fields, they too appear to understand that something fundamental is shifting. Alejandra Márquez Abella masterfully weaves these omens and subtle shifts into a narrative that highlights an epochal transformation in rural Mexico. Through the eyes of Rosa and other characters typically relegated to passive roles, she explores themes of class struggle, tradition versus modernity, and the inevitable passage of time. Her depiction of this microcosm offers a poignant glimpse into the complex dynamics at play as old orders crumble and new ones emerge.