I'm No Longer Here
dir. Luis Fernando Frías de la Parra · 2019
The struggle to maintain one's identity and cultural roots in the face of displacement and change is a fundamental part of the human experience.
"I'm No Longer Here" explores the vibrant yet precarious life of a young Mexican gang leader, balancing the rhythms of cumbia with the haunting ache of displacement. The film's lush visuals and poignant storytelling create a deeply immersive experience, resonating with anyone who has ever longed for home.
In Monterrey, Mexico, a young street gang spends their days dancing to slowed-down cumbia and attending parties. After a mix-up with a local cartel, their leader is forced to migrate to the U.S. but quickly longs to return home.
Full synopsisspoilers
In the mountains of Monterrey, Mexico, a small street gang named "Los Terkos" spend their days listening to slowed down cumbia music and attending dance parties, showing off their outfits, hairstyles and gang alliances. These different bands of disaffected youth refer to themselves as Kolombianos, combining the Cholo culture with Colombian music. Ulises Samperio (17), the leader of Los Terkos, tries to protect his friends from the nefarious elements of a quickly evolving drug/political war, but after a misunderstanding with a local cartel, he is forced to leave for Jackson Heights, Queens, a diverse immigrant community in New York City.
Ulises tries to assimilate, but when he learns that his gang and the whole Kolombia culture is under threat, he questions his place in America and longs to return home.
