Filmmaker Statement

When I began writing this story years ago, it was a tiny fire that I couldn’t put out. As the feelings turned into words, and the words turned into images, and the images turned into feelings again, I never could have imagined how much this story would mean to so many people besides me. Too often, trans women of color’s relationships with men embody the quintessence of the transphobia and misogyny we face. And yet, we are brave enough to love, again and again. Rather than indulging in a trauma narrative, this film presents a healing narrative. However, healing is neither linear nor always legible to all. For Maya and Santiago, their unexpected encounter helps them take stock of how far they’ve come. They are also confronted with all the words left unsaid. It is my hope that in the unsaid, this film can speak to all of us who’ve been hurt by someone who was too close to escape. I hope it creates as much space for healing on screen as it has in my heart and for the cast and crew.