An Indigenous Guatemalan man, Romero (Jozef Coxaj), climbs on a bunk bed, sleeping next to his fellow coworkers. He’s living in Guatemala City after leaving his small town, because working security can help him make money. One of his workplaces is at a mall where Nubia (Lola Vásquez) , a transwoman, runs her cellphone shop. Working in proximity with each other means they get to have deep conversations, blossoming into a romantic relationship. 

Director and writer Joaquin Ruano follows these two characters in his film Nosotros, mostly focusing on Romero’s arc. Here, viewers can see him juggling his new life in Guatemala City while fulfilling his obligations in his home. Dating Nubia gives him happiness, even in a tangential community where people don’t want to mind their business. Circumstances, though, has Nubia visiting the community that Romero left behind, making her reckon with her loneliness. 

Nosotros, as with Ruano’s previous work, goes for a semblance of restraint where his protagonists just hang out. I keep comparing this with the kind of romantic media I watch where people exaggerate their romantic situations. One can read a lot into where Romero and Nubia meet, like their hole in the wall local restaurants. 

Nosotros is one of the instances where a longer running time, five more minutes, would feel necessary. Clocking in at 78 minutes, it’s admittedly short and bittersweet, allowing its viewers to feel emotions without showing too much. Society breaks romantic relationships apart, and life, sadly goes on.