Mexican director-writer Ángeles Cruz brings us an enduring heroine, the winsome Valentina, who uses all her might to prove that her father, who drowned in a nearby river, is still alive. Raised in a close-knit Indigenous Mixtec community in Oaxaca, Valentina wears a cape and draws comic books, inspired by her favorite superhero, Kandi, who can bring forth powers of thunder and lightning. Determined to reconnect with her dad, Valentina spends time by the river and starts to hear his voice speaking to her in Mixtec, a language she never learned. Relentlessly optimistic and committed to her beliefs, Valentina enlists her friend Pedro to teach her how to speak their Indigenous language in hopes that she can reach her dad. Ultimately uplifting and deeply compassionate, this story portrays a child’s understanding of life, mortality, and the healing power of love. Age 11+ –Deb Girdwood