From Lake to Legend:
The Transformation of Mexico City
"From Lake to Legend" invites viewers on a literary and visual journey into the heart of Mexico City's water crisis, seen through the eyes of the very element that has shaped the city's destiny—water.
The documentary opens with a lyrical introduction, where water reflects on its long relationship with the valley that would become Mexico City. It recounts the days when it was abundant, cradling the Valley of Mexico with vast lakes and streams, sustaining the Aztec Empire's innovative chinampa farming systems.
The narrative voice of water, both omnipresent and personal, then guides the audience through the seismic shifts brought about by the Spanish conquest. Water laments its transformation under the Spaniards who, ignorant of the ancient wisdom that once harmonized urban life and nature, drained the lakes to prevent flooding, unwittingly setting the stage for the chronic water scarcity that plagues the city today.
Through carefullly curated archival footage, the film depicts the gradual erasure of natural water bodies and the rise of urban infrastructure that choked the city's waterways. Drone footage interspersed throughout the documentary provides a stark juxtaposition between the past and present, illustrating the dramatic changes in landscape and water management.
As the short documentary progresses, water's tone shifts from nostalgic to critical, focusing on the 20th and 21st centuries when exponential urban population growth demanded more than the compromised water system could provide. The film explores the improvised and often inadequate water governance that emerged, marked by stark inequalities in water distribution. These disparities are depicted through current drone shots of affluent neighborhoods with abundant water, contrasted against the parched outskirts where water is a scarce commodity.
The climax of "From Lake to Legend" addresses the urgent and impending crisis of Day Zero—a looming date when public water supply could potentially stop, and the inequalities in water access might deepen catastrophically. Here, water’s voice adopts a pleading tone, calling for immediate action and a return to the symbiotic relationship of old, where water and people existed in a mutually beneficial balance.
Waves of Time:
Reflecting on Water's Journey Through Mexico City
Echoes of Eden
In the serene beginnings narrated by the documentary, the Valley of Mexico is visualized through sweeping drone footage of the surrounding mountains, hinting at the vast lakes that once dominated the landscape. "From Lake to Legend" uses evocative archival images to bring to life the ancient chinampa system—an ingenious network of floating gardens that exemplified sustainable water and agricultural practices. Water speaks fondly of these times, its voice filled with pride for the sustainable harmony that defined the Aztec approach to urban design. The documentary emphasizes how this balanced interaction between human and water systems fostered a thriving culture and rich biodiversity, setting a poignant contrast to the later scenes of environmental degradation.
The Drainage of Lakes
As the tone of the documentary darkens, water narrates the disruption caused by the Spanish conquest with a mixture of sorrow and bitterness. Archival footage shows the aggressive drainage projects that dismantled the chinampa system, replaced by the Spaniards' relentless push to build a city in their own image. Through cinematic drone visuals, viewers can see the stark transformation of the landscape as lakes and rivers were gradually erased. Water’s narrative underscores the loss of cultural and ecological wisdom, marking this period as the beginning of a long struggle against urban water scarcity.
Against Day Zero
In the final act, "From Lake to Legend" confronts the contemporary water crisis head-on. Drone footage reveals the stark disparities in water accessibility across different districts of Mexico City, while archival clips illustrate the patchwork solutions and inadequate policies of recent decades. Water's voice becomes urgent, criticizing the short-sighted water governance and highlighting the personal stories of those most affected by water inequality. The documentary crescendos with a powerful call to prevent Day Zero, urging a reevaluation of water management strategies and a renewed commitment to equity and sustainability in urban planning. This segment aims to galvanize residents and policymakers alike, advocating for a future where water scarcity is no longer a threat.
"Water is the mirror of our past and the reflection of our future;
we must acknowledge it or be swept away."
Behind the Currents:
Crafting Narratives from the Waters
of Mexico City
In the crafting of "From Lake To Legend," each facet of the film's production was intentionally selected and intricately aligned to echo the essence of its protagonist, water. This thematic coherence was achieved through a rich tapestry of auditory, visual, and narrative elements, each contributing to a holistic portrayal of water's narrative. The soundtrack, infused with echoes from ancient times meshed with the buzz of modern life, along with visuals that span centuries in a single frame and a script that weaves bilingual poetry, collectively shaped a creative exploration full of discovery and inventive expression. This meticulous orchestration not only enriched the documentary’s content but also elevated its artistic and communicative impact, ensuring that every component was a testament to the profound and pervasive influence of water on Mexico City’s past, present, and future.
Sound Design: Soundwaves of the Past and Present
The documentary’s music is a fusion of past and present, combining pre-Hispanic sounds with the rhythmic pulse of modern urban life. Traditional instruments like the teponaztli (wooden drum) and huéhuetl (aztec drum) were used to create a link to the ancient roots of Mexico City. These sounds are intertwined with ambient recordings from contemporary cityscapes—horns honking, people chatting, the distant sound of music from a street festival—all capturing the city’s vibrant yet chaotic energy. This auditory blend mirrors the documentary's theme: a city steeped in history; a contrast between the old and the new, metaphorically representing the ongoing dialogue between Mexico City's historical reverence for and modern challenges with water.
Visuals: Weaving Time Through Abstraction
Selecting the right footage was crucial in painting an accurate portrait of the water’s narrative. Copyright-free archival footage provided a glimpse into the past, showing the original water systems and the urban transformation over centuries. This was juxtaposed with high-definition drone footage from Mexican photographers, which highlighted the current state of water infrastructure and the stark inequalities in water distribution. The editing process was akin to stitching different eras together, creating a seamless flow that allows the audience to travel through time. Slow transitions and thoughtful composition were employed to emphasize the dramatic changes and the ongoing challenges faced by the city.
Script: A Bilingual Letter from the Water
The script for "Sed Colectiva" was crafted as a poignant letter from water to the people of Mexico City, written in both Spanish and English to maximize accessibility and impact. By personifying water, the script adds a unique, intimate urgency to its message. To deepen the narrative's cultural resonance, quotes from different periods guide us through a voyage in time: pre-Hispanic poetry, Hernan Cortez’s diaries along noted Mexican intellectuals Carlos Monsiváis and Octavio Paz. These elements enrich the script’s texture, linking ancient wisdom with modern pulse, framing the water crisis within a broader historical and cultural context. The intertextual approach ensures the message speaks powerfully to both heart and mind, urging viewers to reflect on their relationship with water.
