Plot

"La Calaca" is a music documentary by award-winning filmmaker and composer Julián De La Chica. It follows Mexican mezzo-soprano Rosario Armas and Cuban pianist Ahmed Alom as they navigate themes of death, memory, and cultural identity through the song cycle "Canciones de la Muerte," commissioned for Armas and inspired by texts found in the Capela dos Ossos in Évora, Portugal. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the film captures a day in their lives, blending rehearsals, reflections, and performances. "La Calaca" highlights the resilience of the Latinx spirit and the profound influence of Latin American artists in shaping contemporary music.

"La Calaca," a music-documentary by award-winning filmmaker and composer Julián De La Chica, follows Mexican mezzo-soprano Rosario Armas as she embarks on a personal and artistic journey through the themes of death, remembrance, and cultural identity. Through "Canciones de la Muerte," a song cycle commissioned for her, composed by De La Chica, and based on texts by Portuguese priest Fr. António da Ascenção -texts found at the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) in Évora- the project offers a profound reflection on mortality and the transient nature of life.

Inspired by "Día de Muertos" traditions and the spirit of her Mexican heritage, Rosario's album becomes a tribute to those who came before and a celebration of the resilience found within grief.

Accompanied by her husband, Cuban pianist Ahmed Alom, the film captures their collaboration as a reflection of Latinx artistry and power in New York City, a place where culture and survival intertwine. As Rosario and Ahmed weave together music, memory, and tradition, "La Calaca" reveals how honoring the past can empower new voices in contemporary classical music.

Published by Irreverence Group Music [IGM], the album was released on November 1st, 2024 (Día de los Muertos). It features the premiere recordings of two song cycles by De La Chica: "Arias Florentinas, Op. 15" and "Canciones de la Muerte, Op. 20," the latter dedicated to Armas.

Shot with intimacy and poetic minimalism, "La Calaca" is a meditation on identity, mourning, and creative rebirth, asking what it means to carry the weight of history and how song can become an offering of life. The camera follows a normal day in the lives of Rosario and Ahmed, beginning in their apartment in New York City, revealing the quiet strength behind their music and the beauty of their shared journey.

Through conversations, rehearsals, and performances, the documentary also captures their personal perspectives on the musical world today, their visions as Latinx artists, and the vital role of the Latin American community in shaping the cultural and artistic fabric of the United States and contemporary music at large.