Candles

short film by Timoteo Cortez

After years of refusing to confront the death of his son in the Vietnam War, Martin is forced to come to terms when he learns about the U.S.'s departure in 1973—leaving him and his wife to pick up the pieces.

Story

Martin, a Mexican candlemaker in rural Texas, has avoided properly grieving his son’s death for the last four years. Alma, his wife, has left him alone for the most part, grieving on her own, while Martin continues to leave things in the past. All was “normal” until Nixon gave his presidential address in January 1973, stating the nation’s departure from Vietnam. Martin hears this address, and the memories start flooding back. Being unable to suppress these emotions and memories negatively affects his work.

To soothe himself, Martin goes to his son’s room. But with his mental state, he begins to see apparitions of his son lighting a candle. This moment inspires and pushes him to take the first step to visit his son’s memorial.

Setting

The film is set on the outskirts of Houston, Texas. Here, we see the flatlands mixed with tall grass and woodlands in which our characters live. This is not only for the story’s accuracy, but to underline Martin and Alma’s isolation from the rest of the world. This environment highlights the country’s abandonment of the families of fallen soldiers, forced to move on.

Martin and Alma live in a modest one-story home; its darkness reflects the looming melancholy they constantly live with. With the loss of their son, their world lost its light.

Themes

“Candles” shares another perspective of Post-War Vietnam seldom seen: the Hispanic families left to pick up the pieces after the devastation. Although grief is an obvious theme in the story, it’s mainly about family, with a focus on the father-son relationship.

The film also touches on the side effects of cultural issues such as “Machismo,” showcasing the need to allow men to be vulnerable.

Relevance

The Vietnam War has deeply influenced Latino Americans, and its impact continues to be felt today in political views, nationalism, and ethnicity.

Unfortunately, this war is not as thoroughly covered in history classes as other conflicts, leaving younger generations unaware of its significance. Modern media rarely depict life in the U.S. during and after the war from the Latino perspective. Given the current political climate, media representation of Latinos remains limited, especially in Texas. Even with SB22 passing, there’s no guarantee of creative freedom or benefits. It’s more important than ever to create media for Latinos by Latinos—media that honestly portrays the realities of war and the country’s neglect of its citizens.

Characters: Martin

Character description:

Age: 40s-50s

Stubborn, Dedicated, Sentimental, Quiet,

Worn, Prideful.

His cognitive immobility prevents him

from finding peace, slowly damaging his

life and marriage.

Characters: Alma

Character description:

Age: 40s-50s

Patient, Headstrong, Faithful,

Resilient, Tough, Spiritual.

She wants to move forward and find peace in a life without Johnny. But unsure if Martin will be alongside her.

Characters: Johnny

Character description:

Varying ages: 9yrs & 19yrs

Mischievous, Scared, Confused,

Compassionate, Forgiving

Was selected for the draft after high school and served 1 year of service. Never to grow old.

Real portrait of Larry Paul Campos, aged 19, served in Vietnam, K.I.A.

Visuals

Visual description

The film will look as close to the 1970s as possible. It is also meant to be an observation of someone’s world as they take their first steps in the grieving process. In the beginning, the camera will be on sticks to convey Martin’s stability when hidden inside. But as he begins to unravel, so does the camera. It starts to shift to being handheld, allowing the audience to peer into Martin’s emotional descent.

With wide-angle lenses, we see our characters smaller in frame, overwhelmed by the environment and their position.

Cooler tones of the film convey the gloomy world our characters live in. The film will be shot with mostly natural lighting, allowing us to take in the home and Texas landscapes as they are.

Meet the Team!

Timoteo Cortez - Director/Writer/Producer

Timoteo has written and directed narrative short films such as “Proverbs” and “This Station is My Father”.He’s screened at festivals, the Houston Latino Film Festival, ATX Short Film Showcase, and the Houston Filmmaker Showcase.

Timoteo Cortez is a Chicano Writer/Director from Houston, Texas. Growing up as a military child has exposed him to all walks of life and subcultures across the nation. Being able to interact with others from different backgrounds is something he has never taken for granted, and he used those experiences as a way to learn about humanity and life itself. Through this exposure to various cultures, art, and history, Timoteo discovered his passion for storytelling. He hopes to share stories from the perspective of the Latino community that has seldom been heard.

David Mejia - Director of Photography

David has DP’d on music videos “Don't U Wanna Fly” for musician Peyton, “Calamity” for musician Wage; Narrative films: “Blue Devils”, “Proverbs”, “Subject”, and “The Light That Shines On Mary”, which was screened by Houston Cinema Arts Society.

David Mejia is a Guatemalan-American DP from Houston, Texas. David graduated from Houston’s Performance & Visual Arts school, where he discovered his passion for Cinematography. This love motivated him to collaborate with many artists, giving him opportunities to create stunning visuals for every project he has touched. David has worked as a DP for various projects, spanning from commercials, music videos, and indie features. He treats every project as a chance to elevate his skill set and believes that, with his aid, he can create beautiful imagery that will make any film stand out.

Rafael Elorza - Producer

Rafael has written and directed short films such as “Faces” and “Subject”. He has also worked as a producer for “Taco Date Supreme” and Associate Producer for the music video “Silver Joy” by Damian Jurado

Rafael is a Mexican American Writer/ Director from Houston, Texas. With experience in the indie film world, Rafael has worked across commercials, music videos, and short films, taking on roles including assistant director, producer, and director of photography. His work is deeply influenced by themes of identity, as he seeks to explore himself and others through stories that help audiences better understand who they are.

Romina Palacios - Production Manager

Romina is a filmmaker and creative entrepreneur based in Houston, Texas. With experience across directing, producing, and working on large-scale productions, she brings a hands-on understanding of the film industry to every project.

She is currently developing CrewBase, a platform that makes your city’s film network accessible anytime, anywhere. CrewBase aims to transform the way producers, coordinators, and crew connect by digitizing word-of-mouth hiring.

Passionate about empowering creatives, Romina focuses on community, innovation, and helping the next generation of filmmakers access opportunities. Her vision combines real-world set experience with entrepreneurial drive, positioning her at the intersection of film, tech, and business.

Inspiration

My Great-Grandfather,

Guadalupe Davila,

Served in the Army during WWII in the European Theatre as an ambulance driver.

My Grandfather,

Richard Davila,

Enlisted in the National Guard during the Vietnam war— did not see action.

“Candles” was inspired by the stories of my grandfather’s youth in the ‘60s & ‘70s.

When my grandfather graduated high school, his father ensured he attended college not only for a better education but also to prevent him from being drafted. As tensions escalated, my grandfather was advised by his father to join the National Guard as a way to avoid conscription. Unfortunately, as the war worsened, the U.S. began to pull men from the National Guard to fight. My grandfather witnessed waves of men being drafted; the group before his was the last to be selected, and tragically, they never returned home.

The relationship my grandfather had with his father was inspiring. Sadly, this made me think of the families who faced unfortunate outcomes. “Candles” is an opportunity to give a voice to the families affected by the war, those left with nothing but despair.