Adelita is a short film about 'Escaramuza' - the women's precision horseback riding discipline within Charrería, Mexico's national sport; and a large part of Mexico's cultural heritage.
Escaramuza riders, known as 'Adelitas' after the women of the Mexican Revolution, perform high-speed synchronized formations in full traditional dress. It's one of Mexico's most visually striking and culturally rich traditions, yet one of the least documented.
The film weaves together the stories of riders at every stage of life, exploring themes of gender, heritage, and the bond between rider and horse. Until recently Charrería was a male-dominated world, and for generations women were largely kept to the sidelines. Escaramuza has given women their own arena and today their events draw enormous crowds and passionate fans. ADELITA tells the story of that shift through the women living it.