Como Si La Tierra Se Las Hubiera Tragado: Review

“Como Si La Tierra Se Las Hubiera Tragado” reminds you of one of the many stories that continue, even when they aren’t the latest headline.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on

[Unless Said Otherwise] Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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“Como Si La Tierra Se Las Hubiera Tragado” Film Details

Runtime: 14 Minutes
Release Date: January 30, 2025
Initially Available On/Via: Film Festival – Sundance
Advisory Film Rating: Not Rated
Genre(s): Drama, Young Adult, Animation, Non-English (Spanish)
Director(s):Natalia León
Writer(s):Natalia León

Summary

After some time away from her hometown, Olivia returns and the once vibrant and colorful place she knew as a child is in black and white. There are missing person posters, the ice cream shop she loved is gone, and in some ways, all she can see is what’s not there and there might be some survivor’s guilt.

Character Descriptions

Olivia (Carolina Zarate Wall, Natalia Leon)

A still from Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado by Natalia León, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Olivia is a young woman from Mexico who left for school and finds herself haunted by the faces on missing person posters upon her return.

Review

Characters

  • Olivia As A Medium For What Is Happening Makes For A Good Means To Not Only Highlight An Issue But Present Some Form Of Survivors’ Guilt [85/100]

World-Building & Culture

  • The Balance Between The Kidnapping Issue And Still Present There Is Beauty Allowed For A Well Balanced Take On Culture [83/100]

Story & Pacing

  • Watching Olivia’s World Shift From A Black & White Adulthood To The Innocent Colorful World Of Adolescence, Allows You To Go On A Journey To See How Life Changes Once No Longer Shielded By Your Parents, If Not The Community At Large [87/100]

Diverse Hooks & (Re)Watch Value

  • While There Is An Embedded Message Here, To Create Widespread PSA Of The Plight Of Kidnapped Women, Minus Some Of The More Nightmarish Parts, This Could Be Seen As A Good Way To Introduce The Dangers Out There [86/100]

Overall

Our Rating (85/100): Positive (Worth Seeing) – Recommended

With a PSA/after-school special style with an important message, Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado uses what makes animation an inviting medium for storytelling to give life to a serious topic that sometimes can feel like it slips in and out of the news.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.