I'm No Longer Here (Ya no estoy aquí in Spanish) is a Mexican drama film directed and written by Fernando Frías de la Parra, released in 2019. It tells the story of a seventeen-year-old, streetwise gang member named Ulises (Juan Daniel García Treviño), who leads a group of fellow dancers known as the "Los Terkos" in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. The "Los Terkos" dance to the music of cumbia rebajada, a slowed-down version of the popular Colombian music.
Ulises and his friends are proud of their unique culture, fashion, and music but feel like outsiders in their own city. They are constantly harassed by local gangs and police, who accuse them of being involved in the drug trade. Ulises is deeply involved in the gang life, but he begins to question his choices when his mother dies, and he is forced to confront his future.
Ulises' world turns upside down when their dance showcase is interrupted by a misunderstanding with a local cartel. Ulises is forced to leave his hometown and move to Queens, New York City, to seek asylum. He leaves behind his friends, family, and culture that he cherished so much, and that shaped his identity.
In the United States, Ulises faces several challenges, such as language barriers, cultural differences, and estrangement from his family, who he left behind. He struggles to fit into the American society and finds solace in dancing by himself, reflecting on his past and future.
The storyline jumps back and forth between Ulises' life in Mexico and his new life in New York City. The film explores the themes of identity, community, migration, and culture through Ulises' experiences in both countries. The film has received critical acclaim and won numerous awards, including the Audience Award for Best International Feature Film at the Morelia International Film Festival and the Youth Jury Award for Best International Feature Film at the Guadalajara International Film Festival.
