Actor and filmmaker Diego Luna’s fifth directorial feature, "Ashes," is a profound adaptation of Brenda Navarro’s novel "Eating Ashes." Inspired by the book’s intimate exploration of migration, sacrifice, and grief, Luna embarked on this project as a producer, co-writer, and director, translating the novel’s poignant narrative into a sharp visual language. The film aims to capture the harrowing journey of migration through intimate close-ups and extended one-shot takes, allowing the audience to experience the story through the eyes of its main character.

Starring Anna Díaz as Lucila and Adriana Paz as Isabel, "Ashes" follows Lucila, a young woman who has shouldered the responsibility of raising her brother Diego (Sergio Bautista) in Mexico. Her journey begins as she sets out to reunite with their mother, Isabel, who left nearly a decade prior in search of a better life in Spain, hoping for a future family reunion. Now, Lucila desperately seeks answers, and her migration to Spain unveils new challenges and tragedies, forcing her to confront an unforgiving world.

Luna revealed that the genesis of the film came four years ago when the book was gifted to him by its editor, who later co-wrote the film with him and Abia Castillo. The novel’s portrayal of migration, particularly from Mexico to Spain—a less commonly depicted route compared to the Mexico-to-US narrative—deeply resonated with him. He noted the growing Latin American community migrating to Spain due to the dangers of traversing Mexico and the anti-immigrant sentiment encountered en route to the US. This specific migration raised questions for Luna about how Spain receives this community and the complex layers of their experiences. Furthermore, the book's exploration of a Mexican family within a military community shed light on an often-overlooked aspect of Mexican society, where violence is increasingly affecting these communities.

A significant personal connection for Luna shaped the film’s narrative: the absence of a mother. Having lost his own mother at the age of two, Luna admitted that many of his projects explore stories from the perspective of children, their upbringing, and the references they acquire or lack. For him, "Ashes" became a story about multiple absences in Lucila’s life, allowing him to infuse much of his personal experience into the character. The collaborative process with actors was crucial; Anna Díaz, through whose eyes the entire film is seen, brought her own understanding, as did Adriana Paz, who had previously migrated to Spain and connected with similar communities, enriching the film’s authenticity.

The visual treatment of the film intricately contrasts Mexico and Spain. While Luna felt perfectly at home directing in Mexico, Spain presented a new territory, mirroring the character’s own journey of adaptation. This production structure, with a Mexican team being "received" in Spain, echoed the film's themes of migration and reception. A key visual element was the changing temperature and seasons in Spain, particularly Madrid's harsh winter followed by Barcelona’s sunnier disposition. These climatic shifts were deliberately used to trigger emotional changes in Lucila, reflecting her evolving mindset. Upon returning to an idealized Mexico, Lucila finds a reality that diverges from her memories, particularly within the military community she belongs to.

Luna and his Director of Photography, Damián García, adopted an economical and patient visual language. They frequently filmed in the actual, often cramped, living spaces of migrant communities, such as an apartment shared by six women and two children in Barcelona. Their approach involved staying in one camera position for extended periods, allowing actors to move within the frame and capture entire scenes in long takes, or "oners." This technique often placed the camera either extremely close to Lucila or immersed the audience within her perspective, emphasizing her reactions to unseen events. Luna explained that the film is less about the explicit actions and more about Lucila’s transit through reality, aiming to prompt viewers to question the deeper reasons behind migrants' choices, rather than perceiving them as simple options.

Reflecting on his growth as a filmmaker, Luna expressed feeling "much more mature" and more adept at connecting with an audience visually. His experience on "Andor" instilled a desire for the creative freedom he associated with independent cinema from the late '90s and early 2000s, exemplified by films like "Y tu mamá también." "Ashes" was self-financed with a tight schedule and crew, granting full creative autonomy, which Luna found immensely satisfying after a large-scale studio project. He also highlighted his increased patience with the editing process, viewing it as a "mysterious" yet "beautiful exercise of confrontation" that allows the film to find its true form. He emphasized the importance of a reliable team, considering a DOP like Damián García as crucial as a finished script.

Regarding the release, "Ashes" is expected to open in Spanish cinemas around October, with Netflix acquiring streaming rights for Latin America and Spain. Luna hopes to secure distribution in the United States, believing the film offers an important, distanced perspective on migration, prompting conversations without the immediate political context of US immigration debates.