Set in rural Mexico, the film follows Nacho (Eligio Melendez), an ageing tomato farmer who likes nothing better than to take his granddaughter to the field and teach her the joys of living from the land. When his daughter, artist Elena (Maria Melendez), wishes to move to the city to start a new life, Nacho must choose between his passion and those closest to him.

Many short films try to pack a big punch in a small amount of time by presenting life or death scenarios, but there is something more powerful in stories that focus on the gravity of everyday life. In director Cristobal Abugaber’s film, the conflict comes from a clash of philosophies. Elena sees their home as holding back her dreams, but for Nacho this small corner of the earth is his dream.

It’s a story that asks if the pursuit of “more” is the enemy of happiness; that if we actually found what we were looking for, would it be enough? The interactions between Nacho and his granddaughter are endearing, while the discussions with Elena never dissolve into melodrama. It’s to the actors’ credit that these characters feel real, with all the nuances of real-life emotion.

Most film fans will be aware of the stereotypes with which Mexico is saddled in American movies, and happily Abugaber avoids all of them. The Mexican filmmaker works with American cinematographer Brendan Sweeney to make every landscape feel like home. Whether sitting with the leads in the back of a pickup truck at dusk, or focusing on tomatoes being grown on the farm, there is an affection to every moment that is hard to resist.

Equally magnetic is Eligio Melendez in the lead, with a grace and stoicism that tells you every moment of his story without saying a word. He’s as convincing in his tender opening moments with child actor, as he is with something heavier, such as a scene where Elena asks why nothing goes right for her. She could easily have been a dislikable character, but Maria Melendez conveys a relatable frustration to Elena, a mother who wants the best for her child.

A beautiful film with a warm message at its heart, everyone involved in the project eloquently reminds you about what’s truly important in life – family, dreams, and The Perfect Tomato.

The Perfect Tomato premiered at the Guanajuato International Film Festival.