Hasta la Raíz

“Hasta la Raíz” is a historical drama set in 1856 in the greater Los Angeles basin. Cecilia, a Tongva woman, is a servant at a Mexican rancho alongside her daughter. She is entrusted by her community to organize the legality of a land return promise by a priest after the San Gabriel mission closed. Within the rancho property, a squatter fences his claim and poses a threat against the rancheros and workers. Cecilia finds herself alone after the ranchero’s wife, Señora Angustias, leaves in pursuit of a lawyer to defend her own land grant. The squatter sees this as an opportunity to corner Cecilia; he threatens to hurt her daughter and tries to assault Cecilia. Determined to free herself, Cecilia fights back. Protecting her daughter and finding healing, Cecilia ensures her teachings are passed on.