I had the privilege of seeing this film at a screening in Austin and was impressed with how moving a short film can be. Having seen my share, I never connect with a character fast enough in the format to engage fully in the plot. "Los Encinos" manages, through excellent cinematography and well-acted parts, to involve you from the opening shot. Much like the interwoven stories of Tarantino and Soderburgh, the story creates an involvement and an empathy for every character.

The plot explores the most fundamental choices we are presented with, between life and death, taking life and embracing death, and the gray in-between throughout. And it does this in the very real context of the borderlands, accurately portraying the conflicts of those along this hard land in heartfelt performances.

The story left me with not only an examination of "what would I do?" as many good films do, but wanting more of this tale. This is the mark of good storytelling and of great film-making.