A birthday party where the cake isn't the only thing getting cut.
In the heart of a Dominican family’s home, the youngest daughter’s thirteenth birthday is being celebrated. Balloons, cake, and music cannot hide the tension that lingers in the air. Amid the party, between music and applause, Minerva receives a special gift from her father. What seems like an innocent gesture turns into a silent revelation of the fear that has long resided in her heart. Through glances, restrained gestures, and meaningful details, the short film portrays domestic violence from a child’s perspective, where joy and horror coexist in the same space.
Direction
Álvarez weaponizes silence—every frame screams.
Acting
Liz Mariel Ventura's eyes do ALL the work.
Editing
Three minutes that feel like a lifetime.
Director
Ralva Álvarez
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Dominican filmmaker Ralva Álvarez uses the quinceañera tradition's younger cousin—age 13—to expose how violence gets ritualized into celebration.
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