Living Altars: Noche de Muertos

Puntos de Vida (Threads of Life), a film by James Hall, is a 25-minute documentary shot entirely by the film’s subjects, master artist Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez and her two 15-year-old students at Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy during a Mayan embroidery in Yucatan, Mexico.

The trio traveled in early March, days before the pandemic shutdown, to various Mayan villages to meet artisans working in their homes and shops. They reflect on their experiences with candor and insight while capturing vibrant colors and cultural life with sincerity and appreciation.

The viewer joins the three travelers for a first-hand immersion in traditional art making in Native communities, the celebration of skill and beauty, and the power of connecting to one’s cultural roots.