Where most saw defeat, socialist activist Irina Layevska saw a call to action; it was now or never, and her body is her first site of revolution. Morir de Pie is the inspiring story of this tireless fighter in the war for personal freedoms, who continues to work for progressive causes from her wheelchair despite a severe disability. Born into a male body, Irina grew up idolizing Che Guevara and spent much of her young life fighting in the Cuban solidarity movement. It’s also the love story of Irina and her partner Nelida, whom she married as a man. Nelida has committed herself to understanding her feelings towards her partner’s disability and massive life changes.
Jacaranda Correa, the renowned Mexican journalist and anchorwoman, skillfully intercuts home movies and archival material with sensitive, intimate footage of Irina and Nelida’s present-day lives. They bravely open a window on their most personal moments, as they live to the fullest a life that neither of them could have ever imagined.
Winner: Best Mexican Documentary, Guadalajara Film Festival