Searching for the Soul of Ojai is a place-based documentary exploring the layered social and geographic identity of Ojai, California—a small town nestled in a Topatopa mountain valley long known for its countercultural magnetism, environmental beauty, and mystical lore. Through a mix of interviews, observational footage, and personal reflection, the film examines what it means to call a place “home,” and how a town’s character is shaped by the people who inhabit, remember, and reimagine it.

Bringing together diverse voices—from long-time residents and community leaders to newcomers, artists, and those seeking belonging—the film traces themes of cultural change, place attachment, and contested identity. It considers how individual and collective relationships to place are formed, challenged, and maintained in the face of tourism, gentrification, and broader socioeconomic shifts.

Inspired by traditions in ethnographic filmmaking and human geography, Searching for the Soul of Ojai resists fixed narratives in favor of multiplicity and contradiction. The documentary is a portrait not only of a town, but of the deeply human need to locate meaning, connection, and identity through place. As such, it offers both a local case study and a wider meditation on the geographic processes and emotional landscapes that shape our understanding of home.

„Raices y Brotes“ (2023) is a geographic documentary exploring the intricate relationship between music and the emergent political self-confidence of the P’urhépecha people in Michoacán, Mexico. The film examines how local musicians, activists, and artists employ diverse forms of self-expression to assert and shape their indigenous identity amidst ongoing political movements and unrest. Many rural communities have established “autogobiernos,” experimenting with community-based governance rooted in the traditional normative system of „Usos y Costumbres.“ These systems embody aspirations for self-determination and communal living, yet their practical implementation remains a subject of intense local debate. The documentary highlights how new political dynamics prompt questions about creating self-directed futures and preserving cultural heritage in a rapidly globalizing world. Internal tensions arise as communities navigate challenges posed by globalization, environmental degradation, gender participation, political tolerance, and inclusion. Traditional music serves as a crucial platform for negotiating interpretations of „Usos y Costumbres,“ mediating between divergent political perspectives. Although often not overtly political, music facilitates the renegotiation of collective identity and adapts tradition to contemporary realities. The film also critiques how cultural policies—such as the UNESCO recognition of the Pirekua—can essentialize identity and constrain creative engagement with modern challenges. Produced as a master’s thesis at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in collaboration and cocreation with Mexican musician Luis Molina Gutierrez and the Universidad Intercultural Indígena de Michoacán, the documentary offers a nuanced perspective on indigenous agency, cultural politics, and the evolving role of music in community life.