TheyDream

While on vacation with his mother in 2022, William D. Caballero’s grandmother suddenly passed away. His mother, who had been her caretaker, felt guilty for not being there in her final moments. Following this loss, William joins his mother in her first venture into creative filmmaking and directing as they collaborate on animated shorts about their family’s legacy, transforming their grief through the creative process.

Using innovative techniques, ranging from 3D motion capture to rotoscope animation, William and his mother bring life to their Puerto Rican-American family members who have passed away. They draw on decades of their relatives’ audio interviews that give voice to their hopes, dreams, imperfections, and an unwavering sense of duty. Grandfather Victor is the star of the “Gran’Pa Knows Best” segment, featuring 3D-printed miniatures, while William’s father, Chilly, is featured in “Chilly and Milly,” an animated short documentary. Moments are tender and intense, from a deathbed scene with Victor to a discussion in which Chilly’s homophobia prevents him from accepting his son’s bisexuality.

TheyDream honors the importance of centering self-worth, surmounting barriers, and harnessing creativity amidst the familial duties and tensions that many Latinos navigate in today’s America. The film combines the cultural pride and idiosyncrasies of a family with the fantasy and gravitas of storytelling, standing as a testament to the therapeutic power of the arts as a mother and son come together in collaboration.