"Fungi Dictated the Structure of the Movie": Otilia Portillo Padua on Daughters of the Forest

"While they both possess a wealth of ancestral knowledge about mushrooms, Lis and Juli hope to distinguish themselves within academia. But there is no tension between homeopathy and science here. Instead, the women understand that by enmeshing themselves in a "legitimate" field of study, they can better achieve recognition for the strides their communities have consistently made in the study of mycology."

"The mushrooms themselves are even given as much agency to tell their story as Padua's subjects are. Through an unconventional "sci-fi" lens, the filmmaker gives these organisms a voice of their own, which they use to meditate on their own existence. "Transforming death into life," they whisper about their divine purpose."

"For generations, Indigenous women in Mexico have understood the vast power of mushrooms-medicinal, culinary, spiritual, toxic. Their knowledge has been calibrated and passed down matrilineal channels, not unlike the mycelial network that connects individual mushrooms to one another underneath rich soil."

Daughters of the Forest documents two Indigenous Mexican women, Lis and Juli, who possess ancestral knowledge about mushrooms passed through matrilineal channels. They pursue academic recognition to legitimize their communities' mycological contributions without abandoning traditional practices. The film explores how they navigate institutional discrimination, illegal logging, and language loss while working toward academic credibility. Filmmaker Otilia Portillo Padua employs unconventional storytelling by giving mushrooms narrative agency, allowing them to reflect on their transformative role in ecosystems. The documentary captures Juli's consumption of a psychedelic mushroom seeking spiritual guidance, while maintaining focus on possibilities for Indigenous knowledge integration within scientific institutions despite formidable obstacles.

Read at Filmmaker Magazine