Casimiro, an Undocumented Life

A Documentary Film

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Synopsis

Casimiro Estevez Arguello owns a coffee plantation in Veracruz, Mexico.  Descended from the Aztecs, he is a proud and open man. He believes in his village, Marco Antonio Muñoz, despite clear signs that it is dying.  And he believes in the Catholic church, which despite his material and spiritual devotion, fails to save his family and farm from destruction.   And he believes in his fellow villagers, who refuse to forgive him for past trespasses, or to recognize his family.   He believes in coffee,  despite nearly a decade of ruinous pricing at levels equal to half his harvesting cost.   But like most Mexicans, he believes most in the Virgin of Guadalupe, and in the power of her image to elicit unity, faith and devotion.  And salvation itself.

2002

“I’d lost my family, land and farm.”

Homeless, having lost his lands, farm and family, he watches helplessly as his father dies from a snake bite while picking coffee.  In despair, Casimiro begins a two month drinking binge, at the end of which he decides to commit suicide.   He beats himself in the face until he is nearly blind with rage and blood,  then pours gasoline over his body.

Suddenly, a body rushes in, knocking the lighter out of his hands. Unexpectedly, his wife, Juanita, has arrived.   She is silent.  Staring.  He remembers thinking:  “I have never seen her like this..”   Then, his family behind her,  four children –his children– all sad, all afraid.   It is an epiphany.   He wills himself sober, and returns to them.   It is at this instance  that he decides he must abandon his family in order to save them.   He will cross the border to work in the USA.

The Vow

“The Virgin of Guadalupe answered my prayers.”

Casimiro vows to the Virgin of Guadalupe that he will build Her a Capillita in his village, Marco Antonio Muñoz,  if she will help him stop drinking, and see him safely across the border.   He will work in the USA, sending money home to rebuild his families’ life in the village.   It is a desperate plan; he knew people who’ve died trying to cross.   But he sees no other options.

It is 3 years later, and he hasn’t had a drink.  It is time to make good on his vow.

Corridista