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Hispanic Heritage is on the Horizon: Honor it with film that tells a history we all share!
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On a dusty trail in Baja California’s El Camino Real. photo by Elizabeth Moreno D.
A Dozen Donkeys and a Dream is a good tagline for the 56-minute film that transports viewers back in time 100 years. The film visits an era of merchant pack trains with equines. “When there were no roads, there were recuas.” Recua (rék•wah) is Spanish for caravan. The film is in Spanish with English subtitles. It truly honors our Latinx neighbors.
The thread of this epic adventure follows three generations of riders as they travel 200 miles on rugged remnants of Old El Camino Real trails — trails that connected Spanish missions established throughout the Californias in the 1700s. The goal: To relive the old-time cargo-runner’s adventure. To ride mules for 20 days while herding a string of donkeys that transport traditional goods (dates, aged goat cheese and homemade wine) from a tiny oasis village to the capital city of La Paz. And to celebrate with a fiesta at the end of the trail!
photo by Elizabeth Moreno D.
Why did this tale unfold? An aging vaquero, Darío Higuera, is a rancher and saddle-maker who grew up on roadless ranches in the southern mountain ranges of the Baja California peninsula. Darío holds much of Old Californio knowledge and tradition in his mind and soul, and he wants to share his story. His dream is to follow in the hoof-steps of his grandfather and other famous arrieros (muleteers) who once traveled those ancient trails.
“La Recua is extremely well done. … [The film team] has done a beautiful deed in reflecting the pace of the journey and helping Darío’s dream come to life.”
Carroll Ballard, director – The Black Stallion, Fly Away Home, Never Cry Wolf
Ramoncito and Grandpa. photo by Eric Stevens
Friends and family accompany Darío on the journey. His own 8-year-old grandson and a savvy 10-year-old cowgirl learn the ropes along the way, adding sparkle to the story. Amigos old and new share their own memories, enlightening viewers about pre-highway travel by mule.
An unusual aspect of this vérité doc is that Darío becomes the director of the film. Everything he shares about the outback ranching lifestyle becomes the story, leading a film critic to comment, “The surprising effect of their genuine ranchero voices, the riddle that don Darío poses — ‘What is it that is in everything?’ — and the dried meat eaten around the campfire that must have tasted marvelous on their extended journey… what everyone involved accomplished with this enchanting documentary film is pure magic.”
Producer and Co-Director Trudi Angell, native to Alta California, has lived and run tours in Loreto, Baja California Sur for over 40 years. Learning history, ethnobotany and ranching culture from her vaquero trail guides, and having ridden mules (i.e., 4WD horses) the length of the Baja peninsula — twice — she was the ideal person to help bring Darío’s story to life. This is her first documentary.
