In Cometa 1600, the filmmaker takes us on a powerful journey that connects environmental harmony with human dreams and mental well-being. At its core is Emilio Borges, a fugitive journalist who, along with other dedicated activists, finds himself enmeshed in a fight for ecological justice against looming dangers. Through the striking symbol of the Monarch butterfly, the film explores nature’s cycles, mystical elements, and the profound interconnectedness of life. In this interview, the filmmaker shares the inspirations behind Cometa 1600, delving into the deeply spiritual encounters, symbolic devices, and environmental themes that underscore the story’s urgent message of hope, resistance, and unity.
Patrick Roy, UniversalCinema Magazine (UM): The story of Cometa 1600 centers on the fascinating connection between environmental health and human mental well-being. What inspired this concept, especially the idea that human dreams depend on Monarch butterfly migrations?
Alejandra Díaz Olvera (AD): There was a point in my life when I realized I was disconnected from the spiritual realm, which, to me, means living without an awareness that life exists in everything even buildings, objects. As I grew up in the cities, I wasn’t surrounded by streams or forests, and I think that contributed to my lack of connection with the natural rhythms of life. I didn’t know the name of many plants, animal species or other living beings.
This changed on 2016 during a visit to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. I went there with my sister and a dear friend, Patricia. I had always admired butterflies, but I had never seen them so closely. The sanctuary was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. In the quiet of the mountains, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and focus, almost as if I were in a trance. I could hear the soft sound of the butterflies’ wings, like waterfalls, and the colors around me seemed to come alive.
As I watched the butterflies, I wondered why they appeared so beautiful, almost otherworldly. It felt like a daydream, yet I was fully present, experiencing everything with a new intensity. That moment made me realize that all living beings have an impact on each other, often in ways that are invisible but profound.
I related my experience to ancient beliefs from Greek, Aztec, and Mazahua cultures, which associate butterflies with dreams and the human soul. This became a central idea in Cometa 1600, exploring how our dreams, well-being, and lives might be deeply intertwined with natural cycles, like the migration of the Monarch butterfly.
(UM): Emilio Borges, the protagonist, is a fugitive journalist with a deep sense of purpose. Can you elaborate on his journey and what draws him to Cometa 1600 despite the personal risks?
(AD): Emilio is a sensitive person who longs for love, but this quest isn’t about finding a romantic partner; it’s about feeling alive. He realizes that his loneliness stems from his indifference toward people and his surroundings. In other words, he’s been too self-absorbed. He comes to understand that the only way to experience love is by caring and joining others in pursuing something greater than himself. He doesn’t shy away from the risks because he knows that if he remains stuck in the same place, he’ll always feel empty.
After joining Cometa 1600, Emilio gains a new appreciation for nature through observation and research. This experience makes him recognize the importance of protecting life.
(UM): The concept of the Kaleidoscopic Camera, which reveals the hidden world seen by butterflies, is both imaginative and poetic. How did you develop this device as part of the story, and what does it symbolize?
(AD): In 2019, I started adapting the original story of Cometa 1600, which was inspired by a short story I had written under the same title. The adaptation proved to be challenging, as I aimed to explore the concept of how our dreams are connected to butterfly migrations.
To express this idea visually, I developed a scientific hypothesis about the interconnectedness of natural cycles. I envisioned a calming substance called halito, which is created when air and water come together. This substance would be taken in by pollinators like butterflies, allowing them to spread it around the world, similar to how they distribute pollen and other important nutrients. In doing so, it could ultimately inspire dreams in people.
To illustrate this hypothesis in my story, the scientists needed a way to observe these cycles in action, so I decided to add an optical tool. I came up with a kaleidoscopic one that would allow them to see different facets of life, symbolizing the metamorphosis of time and space.
Once I realized the story needed a kaleidoscope, I added a scene to my unfinished script where Emilio and Isabel visit a forest stream. They use a kaleidoscopic camera to observe the phenomena, and I imagined them witnessing a water portal or an electromagnetic field that reveals how air and water can create this dream-inducing substance. To bring this concept to life, I built my own kaleidoscope and put the script to the test. Together with my friend Bárbara Martínez, the original cinematographer of Cometa 1600, we attached the kaleidoscope to my camera lens and then passed the camera over different shapes and forms we had on hand. Afterward, we went to a natural landscape with a real waterfall, capturing mesmerizing footage of colors, shapes, and textures emerging from the water. And that is how the kaleidoscopic camera was born.
With the kaleidoscopic camera now in place, I continued to complete my script, and while doing so, I realized something amazing: I had intuitively chosen a kaleidoscope to explore nature’s cycles, only to discover that butterflies, bees, and other insects see the world in a kaleidoscopic way, experiencing what I call “metamorphic vision.” While “metamorphic vision” isn’t a scientific term, it reflects how these insects possess trichromatic or multispectral vision, allowing them to perceive a wider range of colors, including ultraviolet light. This unexpected connection influenced my narrative. It made me decide that the scientists would understand from the start that their device mimicked butterfly vision.
(UM): Monarch butterflies play a crucial role in Cometa 1600. Why did you choose this particular species to represent the interconnectedness of life?
(AD): All butterflies serve as important bioindicators, indicating the health of their ecosystems. In Cometa 1600, I focus on monarch butterflies due to their long migration journey, which represents interconnectedness in nature. As they travel thousands of miles from North America to central Mexico, they help maintain the water cycle in the forests where they rest, which supports the growth of native plants and enhances biodiversity. Additionally, their pollination activities play a crucial role for many flowering plants, sustaining food sources for various species, including humans.
Although important, monarch butterfly migration remains under-studied, with many of their behaviors still unknown. This lack of research gave me the opportunity to use my imagination in the film.
(UM): Environmental degradation is shown to have a profound impact on human health, even affecting dreams and cognitive functions. How do you think audiences will resonate with this depiction, given the current environmental crises?
(AD): I anticipate a mixed response from the audience regarding this depiction. Many will resonate with it, as the climate crisis is now evident through visible effects like droughts, fires, and biodiversity loss. For others, this portrayal might be surprising or uncomfortable as it challenges common beliefs about our responsibility toward nature.
Addressing climate change is complex and requires consideration of various contexts and circumstances. While the film may not cover all these intricacies, it aims to present one perspective to encourage dialogue and awareness.
Moreover, mental well-being is often overlooked in discussions about environmental conditions, which causes many to remain unaware of the vital links between personal health and ecological balance. Those who seek to raise these important issues, including scientists and activists, frequently face criminalization and misunderstanding. Instead of being recognized for their contributions, they are often perceived as hindrances to progress and economic growth, despite the fact that a sustainable economy relies fundamentally on the health of our natural resources.
I hope these points will initiate a new conversation about how we can coexist sustainably.
(UM): The story touches on the use of sound-based purification methods to cleanse air and water. Could you explain more about this method within the narrative, and what inspired its inclusion?
(AD): I wanted to explore two ways of experiencing the world through the perspective of butterflies: one through images, using the kaleidoscopic view, and the other through sound, using the “voice method.” The scientists in the story uncover that clean water is essential for the survival of flying species. When water is pure, it not only ensures the cleanliness of the air but also maintains the balance of the halito, which butterflies spread. I aimed to highlight an alternative approach to water purification that relies on natural methods rather than industrial or aggressive techniques. Sound can influence the physical and chemical properties of water and promote processes like aeration and microbial activity that contribute to its cleanliness.
Although we rarely hear insects, I imagined they might communicate through sound, not only with other insects but also with elements like trees and water, and even with human beings. This connection encourages exploration of the sounds butterflies need for harmony with their environment and highlights how sound influences not only water quality but also the well-being of various species.
In high school, I learned that bottled water isn’t necessarily purer than running water because it lacks the natural flow and movement that help maintain water’s structure and cleanliness. In nature, flowing water undergoes constant movement, which oxygenates it and prevents stagnation. Drawing on this idea, I imagined that sound waves, which travel as oscillating energy, could similarly influence matter on a molecular level. Harmonious sounds, like a song, could potentially “unblock” molecular structures, restore balance, and promote flow. If these sounds originate from humanity, they symbolize our participation in natural communication patterns.
(UM): Emilio’s unrequited love for Isabel Guzmán adds an emotional layer to the story. How does this relationship shape his character and his commitment to the cause?
(AD): Emilio finds in Isabel a way to escape his solitude. He develops feelings for her because she discusses spiritual and scientific topics that intrigue him, igniting a spark within him. Isabel awakens something long dormant in his soul. As someone who does not truly know himself, Emilio sees Isabel as both an inspiration and a reflection of his potential. Through her influence, he discovers interests he wishes to explore.
At the same time, Isabel feels genuinely heard and understood by Emilio, as her thoughts and ideas are unconventional. This mutual recognition deepens their connection and strengthens their bond. The issues that matter to Isabel begin to resonate with Emilio, and together they form a true partnership.
After Isabel is forcibly disappeared, Emilio commits to searching for traces of her and the butterflies to honor the activism they shared. This new quest paves the way for Emilio to evolve in many ways.
(UM): Cometa 1600 emphasizes the dangers faced by environmental activists, with characters like Ingrid Martínez and Isabel Guzmán being forcibly disappeared. How does this element of the story reflect real-world issues faced by activists?
(AD): In “Cometa 1600,” I highlight the dangers faced by environmental activists, drawing on my experiences as a Mexican in a country that is one of the most dangerous for journalists and activists. There is a troubling history of violence against those who oppose organized crime and corruption. I understand how certain communities struggle with the repercussions of environmental decline, leading to shortages of clean water, arable land, food insecurity, increased poverty, and violence, including forced disappearances.
Although I have never personally faced such violent and scarcity situations, many people in my country do not share this privilege. As I walk through the streets of Mexico, I feel the pervasive sadness and tension among the people.Widespread corruption and the government’s failure to protect citizens, combined with environmental challenges create a suffocating atmosphere where safety feels out of reach and advocating for rights can be deadly. In a way, this shared discomfort profoundly shape the collective consciousness and understanding of the world. And it is this feeling and perspective that I wanted to share, as I cannot truly illustrate the violence I have not experienced, yet I deeply sense and live in silent ways.
In my narrative, I construct an atmosphere of tension where characters sense danger without seeing it. The threat unfolds in the shadows, using sound, body language, and dialogue to reveal the experiences of scientists and activists in these conditions. The forest, along with most of the natural landscapes, serves as a powerful backdrop where nothing is as it seems. Enchanted moments in the forest can quickly become deceptive. For example, at times, Emilio discovers traces left by scientists, such as decomposing corpses, hair, and clothing, hinting at past horrors yet remaining shrouded in ambiguity. This reflects the essence of living in a toxic environment, where unsettling events occur, but the truth remains obscured.
(UM): The Pneuma field that Emilio and the scientists observe is described as a cosmic energy connecting air, water, and butterflies. Can you discuss the importance of this ethereal concept in the story’s message about environmental balance?
(AD): While exploring the interconnectedness of nature’s cycles, I believed that the only way to bond water and air is through a magnetic field, creating natural connections and balances. This inspired the concept of Pneuma, which symbolizes a natural spirit sustaining life, derived from the Greek term meaning “breath of life.” Pneuma embodies the spark of life that flows through everything.
The butterflies release substances known as halito, which originate from Pneuma and are absorbed when we breathe. This connection intertwines our existence with the dreams they represent. Each breath we take forms a dream in our consciousness throughout the day. To me, dreaming is synonymous with breathing, signifying the essence of being alive.
Dreams are one of our most mysterious and defining characteristics as humans, revealing our sensitivity and the often misunderstood mystical side of our nature.
(UM): In the end, Emilio vows to continue Cometa 1600’s mission despite overwhelming odds. What message do you hope audiences take away from his persistence and the themes of resistance and hope woven throughout the film?
(AD): We are facing significant challenges in today’s political and social landscape, which often leaves us feeling despair and hopeless. Many of us are confused about whom to trust and what the truth really is. This complexity is made worse by violence, lack of accountability, and exploitation.
In terms of climate justice, we encounter numerous obstacles within a capitalist society. While we try to break free from harmful habits, it often seems impossible to be an environmentalist or to act on the issue.
Through Emilio’s journey, I want to show that we can act, that hope lives within ourselves, and that we are not alone; we are part of a larger community that shares our struggles and aspirations. We need to be open to seeing and hearing each other, rather than ignoring those around us. There is always someone willing to fight and believe in the power of love and life. Collective effort can lead to real change and help the seeds of resistance grow.
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