After 20 years of living in the United States, an undocumented family decides to return home. Little do they know, it will be the most difficult journey of their lives. Set between the backdrop of the rodeo rings of North Carolina and the spellbinding Mexican hometown they long for, Bulls and Saints is a love story of reverse migration, rebellion, and redemption.

Bulls and saints

THEIR STORY

The bulls throw you to the ground, the saints lift you to the skies

This proverb holds true for Tacho Juárez and Cecilia Mendoza, who live in constant limbo as undocumented immigrants in the United States. Their lives take an unexpected turn when they decide to return home to Mexico after 24 years away.
As teenagers in love, they ran away from Cheran, their hometown, in search of opportunity and adventure in the United States. Like many, they had planned to go for just a few years but ended up staying for many more, eventually settling in rural North Carolina. After years of hardship, they had two sons, Alan and “Flaco”. To satisfy their nostalgia and survive the isolation of being an undocumented family, Tacho and Cecilia started helping organize traditional community fiestas.

These elaborate celebrations of the revered Saints of their town, complete with bull rodeos, transform the rural South into a temporary Cheran and pass down important cultural traditions to their children while strengthening the community. With their roots now growing deeper in el Norte, Tacho and Cecilia have found a semblance of stability, although very aware that anything can happen to an undocumented family to unsettle their peace. At this stage, many undocumented Latinx immigrants abandon the dream of returning home and find a way to settle down in the United States for good. Yet, for Tacho and Cecilia, the longing to be with their families and the “simple life” of their town has only intensified, making their return inevitable.

The “American Dream” is not for everyone. Meanwhile, in Cheran, family tragedy, environmental crisis, and social upheaval have forever changed their town. Moving forward with their plans, they discover the emotional and logistical complexity of making their dream become a reality and soon realize that it will be the most difficult journey of their lives. Set between the rodeo arenas of North Carolina and the spellbinding Mexican town they yearn for, Bulls and Saints is a love story about reverse migration, rebellion, and redemption.

BROADCAST

Bulls and saints

A feature documentary, will premiere on the PBS series POV September 18th as a part of their 36th season. The film is funded by Firelight Media and Latino Public Broadcasting with additional financial support from the Southern Documentary Fund, the Cucalorus Filmed in NC Fund, and Alternate ROOTS.

IMPACT

We are engaging immigrant communities throughout the United States, emphasizing the rural South. We recognize the importance for immigrant communities to see this film, mostly Spanish speaking, that deals with themes so closely related to their lives, yet doesn’t fit into the archetypical tragic immigrant narrative often seen in the media. Through an impact campaign coordinated by Cinema Tropical, we will bring the film to community centers, schools, and rural areas like farmworker camps and rodeo rings. Bulls and Saints will also be screened outside of the United States, with a focus on rural Mexico, to engage audiences whose lives have been affected by immigration.

A discussion guide for the film is available HERE and a reading list HERE

SCREENING SCHEDULE

Bulls and Saints on the Big Screen!

In partnership with South Arts Southern Circuit, Bulls and Saints will be touring Georgia and the Carolinas this Fall.

09/25- Eatonton, GA- The Plaza Arts Center
09/26- Atlanta, GA- Emory University
09/27- Hapeville, GA- Christ Church & Carriage House
09/29- Canton, GA- Canton Theatre
09/30- Lawrenceville, GA- Lawrenceville Arts Center
10/01- Rome, GA- Rome International Film Festival
11/08- Wilmington, NC- Jengo’s Playhouse
11/11- Clemson, SC- Clemson University
11/13- Winston-Salem, NC- a/perture cinema
11/14- Asheville, NC- Asheville Art Museum
11/21- Charlotte, NC- Charlotte Museum of Art

MORE INFORMATION HERE

Stay posted for dates and locations of future community screenings. Please contact Nuevo South to arrange a screening in your community.

CHERAN - NORTH CAROLINA

Millions of Mexicans immigrated to the American South over the last 30 years as part of the Great Latino Migration. Many settled in rural North Carolina, drawn by the plentiful jobs and cheap rent. Those from Cheran were no exception, given this town’s century-old legacy of workers heading north as laborers. In fact, Cheran celebrates its norteños, workers who have eventually returned to their homes built by dollars sent home over the years. People from Cheran carry their identity in their heart and, especially for immigrants, it’s a great source of pride.

Nestled in a pine forest at 8,000 feet in the state of Michoacan, Cheran is picturesque. Its name means “Place of Fear” in the native Purepecha language, and they are proud to have never submitted to the Spaniards. Cheran is known for celebrating their saints: Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron of the town; Saint Anselm, to assure a bountiful crop; Saint Jude of Thaddeus, saint of hopeless causes; the Rising of the Child God, lifting Jesus to the heavens. These are elaborate fiestas envelop the town for several days and need the participation of many townsfolk, creating strong community bonds. Once the Mass is over, the rodeos start with jinetes riding ferocious bulls to honor the saint.

The Cheran community in North Carolina organizes celebrations to honor saints of importance in their Mexican hometown. Celebrated with every detail as done back home, these fiestas pass on traditions to their children and serve to organize their community as a form of resistance. The community works year-round to create these celebrations; it’s a huge effort based on trust, communication, and coordination to collect and allocate funds, delegate tasks, and contract musical groups, bulls and riders.