Diego Luna, director of Ashes, emphasizes that people often ignore the genuine sacrifice of migrants, leaving behind home, family, and everything familiar. The acclaimed director returns to feature filmmaking with Ashes, a Mexican-Spanish co-production adapted from Brenda Navarro's celebrated novel Ceniza en la boca. The powerful film aims to change how society views the migrant's life.

Understanding the deep emotional weight of relocation sets the stage for an interesting cinematic narrative.

During a recent Variety interview at the Sarajevo Film Festival, Diego Luna explained that his film, Ashes, explores the emotional burdens immigrants carry. He discussed his film and its goal to highlight what migrants leave behind, like their homes, families, and familiar lives, rather than just their journeys.

"When we talk about migrants, we're not thinking about what they left behind," Luna noted. He credited his creative team for focusing on details that average citizens typically ignore.

“I was very lucky to work with a team that shared the necessity of making a film that pays attention to what we don’t pay attention to as citizens,” he said. 

“If we were aware of everyone else’s journey, this would be a much nicer place to be in,” he said in the Variety interview. Through her eyes, the audience will soon experience the true weight of starting over without a safety net.

Ashes follows 21-year-old Lucila as she departs Mexico City alongside her younger brother, Diego. Traveling to Madrid, they hope to reunite with their mother, who relocated years prior. Their new reality in Spain immediately exposes them to gruelling employment, systemic r*****, and profound social isolation. Faced with mounting hardships, Lucila eventually relocates to Barcelona to build an independent life. Her journey captures the quiet resilience required to survive in an unwelcoming foreign environment. Diego Luna also shared the importance of being aware of others’ journeys.

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Strategic release plans ensure this crucial human story reaches both theatrical and digital audiences worldwide.

The feature, Ashes, hits Spanish cinemas on October 9, 2026, distributed by Avalon, with Mexican release dates being finalized. Netflix secured distribution rights across Spanish-speaking regions, scheduling a streaming premiere in 2027 following the theatrical window. This release structure aims to maximize global reach across diverse international audiences.

Brenda Navarro's acclaimed source novel, Eating Ashes aka Ceniza en la boca (2022), grounds the narrative in social realism and psychological trauma. The story explores Ulysses syndrome, a condition marked by extreme chronic stress, alienation, and isolation among modern immigrants. The plot of the novel opens right after Lucila's brother dies by s******* in Madrid.

Returning his ashes to Mexico, Lucila processes intense grief while recalling their childhood with their grandparents. She reflects on the systemic exploitation and isolation that broke her brother's spirit. Diego Luna's Ashes shifts global attention toward the invisible sacrifices made by millions of displaced individuals, the migrants.

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What do you think about Diego Luna's perspective on migrants? Let us know in the comments.