Filmmaker Statement

Like many Miamians, my love for mangos runs deep. Approximately 10 mango seasons ago, I found myself house-sitting for a place with a sprawling mango tree. Over the course of a month, I collected 30-60 mangos a day, biking them around town and giving away these little treasures. That summer was marked by mangos, with one unexpected twist—I discovered my allergy to mango skins. With my rash-covered arms covered in cream to subdue the itch, I felt envy as I watched friends and neighbors uninhibitedly indulge in the bounty of this fallen fruit for the rest of the season. My jealousy turned to curiosity when my mango skin allergy started to spark conversations. I learned that mango sap is part of the poison ivy family, and that while I could no longer touch the mango skin, I might, still, be able to eat mangos that had been peeled. This allergy transformed me from a mango indulger into more of a mango observer, heightening my appreciation for every facet of the mango season that d