In the forested hills of Veracruz, an ancient tradition continues. Francisca Hernández serves as a critical resource in her community, taking her grandmother’s place as healer. While this takes the shape of simple worship, she also sets bones, practices folk medicine, and exorcises demons. With the camera deep in the action, we witness many of these rituals and hear the input of those who observe them. When she’s not working, Francisca cares for her own grandchildren, carrying on the tradition as her grandmother did with her—keeping the histories and knowledge of old alive through storytelling.
Featured in over a dozen film festivals and winner of the Doctubre Award at the DOCSMX Mexico City Documentary Film Festival, River of Toads is a valuable and haunting documentary experience with fantastic horror cinematography. This blending of real and unreal, documentary and magic, brings to mind the likes of Faulkner and other Southern Gothic greats. Much like those fictional characters, the people attending the healings in Veracruz are both proud and isolated by geography. The film focuses on the details of each ritual, holding the camera uncomfortably close to the action or capturing the enraptured faces of onlookers. We’re shown many rituals—from birth prayers rooted in native tradition to the frightening (and ethically suspect) act of exorcism. Filmmaker Juan Nuñch seeks to show us the reality of the situation, capturing the movements, music, emotion, landscape, and history in this artful documentary, attempting to draw a line between rituals as old as human occupation in Central America and the modern day.
While this is a fascinating glimpse into a local spiritual tradition, its slow pacing may leave some viewers frustrated or bored. Consider this title first and foremost if your collection serves a bustling anthropology department. Highly Recommended.
What makes River of Toads an ideal ethnographic film for college and university libraries?
The film’s raw, close-range cinematography and unfiltered presentation of ritual activity align it with the best of observational ethnographic cinema. It doesn’t lecture or overly contextualize—instead, it allows viewers to experience Francisca Hernández’s world through direct documentation. For academic libraries seeking films that reflect authentic cultural practices and challenge conventional narratives, River of Toads stands out.
How can public libraries use this spiritual healing documentary to engage patrons?
Public libraries with a focus on multicultural programming, Indigenous studies, or spiritual traditions will find River of Toads an excellent resource for community engagement. It could be featured in film series on global healing practices, Mexican heritage, or Latin American spirituality. The documentary also encourages viewers to reflect on the intersections of culture, medicine, and myth in community health and care.
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