Tina Modotti was the most important photographer of the twenties from last century in Mexico. Born in Udine in northeastern Italy, at age 16 emigrated, like millions of Italians to America. Ther she worked as a model and actress, but when renowned photographer Edward Weston chose Mexico as his home, Tina learned from him the craft and it was here where she made his photographic work. The crosslinking of art, activism, love and tragedy in her life, are the subjects of this documentary.

Originally, the images of Variations on two photographs by Tina Modotti were engraved directly on 16mm film to be projected as a backdrop for Louis Bédard's choreographic piece entitled Elles, which was inspired by the life and work of the well-known Mexican photographer Tina Modotti. My animations were particularly inspired by two images, first a photography of roses and second a photography of telegraphic wires, suggesting on the one hand an intimate and enclosed universe and, on the other, an infinite opening of space full of potential messages. I have reworked and developed them into an almost abstract meditative drama, caught in a tension between those two photographs.

An unconventional portrait of painter Frida Kahlo and photographer Tina Modotti. Simple in style but complex in its analysis, it explores the divergent themes and styles of two contemporary and radical women artists working in the upheaval of the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution.