Youve almost certainly never seen a film made by Guatemalans. But then, neither have most Guatemalans. Turns out were all watching the same stuff. People here are obsessed with American blockbusters, says Jayro Bustamante, writer-director of Guatemalas most award-winning film . All of the TV is American, all of the fashion is American, the cities are constructed like in the U.S. People think that Miami is the capital of our country!

Bustamantes film Ixcanul (which translates roughly to volcano in the Mayan language of Kaqchikel) presents something different. It is the story of two strong indigenous Mayan women, mother and daughter. Currently enjoying a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it arrived in U.S. theaters this month.

We spoke with Jayro Bustamante for Sophia , a project to collect life lessons from fascinating people (fyi: no spoilers here). His films depiction of Mayan language and culture is especially rare, he said, even in Guatemala where indigenous people make up roughly half the population. The racism in Guatemala is very crude and very strong. Bustamante recalled being taught Kaqchikel as a child but told not to speak it in public to avoid bullying; he described theatergoers in Guatemala laughing when Ixcanul was first released. [People] feel the language is part of the past and not part of the progress we have made in the country.

But the film has emerged a success, its young star a national celebrity. Ixcanul is now kicking off its third theatrical run in Guatemala, and actor Mara Mercedes Coroy recently became the first-ever indigenous woman to grace the cover of a top Guatemalan fashion magazine.

Why did you decide to shoot this film in the Kaqchikel language?

The real woman who told me the story behind the film, her name is also Mara, and she speaks Kaqchikel, so theres a factual basis to it. But theres a personal link too. I grew up in this area until I was 14. Im not Mayan, Im mixed. But I grew up with my nana, a Mayan Kaqchikel woman, who taught me the language. And I remember, she would tell me not to speak it in public. She wanted to protect me.

The racism in Guatemala is very crude and very strong. When Ixcanul first came to theaters, people would say, Why would I see that? I can watch plenty of Indians in the street. Its really crude like that. People would be laughing at the film in the theater just because they see a Mayan woman on the screen, like Ahh, there is an Indian! Really, like that. They feel the language is part of the past and not part of the progress we have made in the country.