“Espérame” is an intimate cinematic portrait of three migrant stories, each unfolding at different stages along the path through Mexico. Throughout the southern regions, traversing the capital city, and reaching the northern border with the United States, tales of love and hope emerge, serving as vital anchors amidst the challenges of a dangerous jungle and the looming specter of the cartel’s violence

Joe has just arrived in Tapachula after a long journey from Chile. While waiting for his visa, he spends his days and nights on the streets haunted by the indelible memory of his passage through the Darien, the deadly jungle between Colombia and Panama.

Two Guatemalan sisters escape domestic violence and extreme poverty, seeking a better life in the city. Arriving in the vibrant metropolis, they embrace the hope of a brighter future, defying the odds through resilience and unity.

A young displaced Mexican couple recounts how they chose to leave everything behind rather than surrender their business to the cartel. In the midst of their escape to protect their lives, they make a discovery that will change their lives.”.

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The restrictive migration policies of the United States and Mexico generate a serious humanitarian situation. In addition to the multiple shortages faced by the population on the move in Mexico, violence is a predominant factor throughout the country. From the moment they enter through the southern border, during their stay in Mexico City and waiting indifinitely at the northern border, migrants are continuously affected by robberies, extortion, kidnappings, sexual violence, human trafficking, among other forms of victimization.

The migrant population is composed of family groups with children, women in advanced stages of pregnancy and unaccompanied minors who have to face violations of their rights, without access to conditions to meet the basic needs of shelter, food, water and sanitation; exposed to different forms of violence and risks such as sexual violence, trafficking, kidnapping or stigmatization.

The presence of international humanitarian actors is scarce and the institutional response is insufficient to address the magnitude of the situation. Legal restrictions, lack of coordination, negligence, criminalization and even corruption of the official entities in charge become permanent barriers for migrants to access basic means of subsistence, physical and mental health services and protection measures.

In their projects throughout the country, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams witness every day the suffering of migrants, but also their strength and resilience to achieve their goals of a life of well-being and security. To draw attention to this situation, in 2023 the organization teamed up with filmmaker Tassilo Lopes Coelho to produce a testimonial film that would give an account of its complexity. The result is Espérame (Wait for me), a 35-minute documentary on the human cost of migration in Mexico.