Rotacismo Documentary | A Journey of Voice, Identity and Acceptance

Rotacismo is an experimental documentary essay narrated in the first person, exploring the quest for one’s voice through a speech therapy process to correct the pronunciation of the letter R. Directed by Ricardo Ruales Eguiguren and produced by Small Boss, the film takes viewers deep into an intimate journey of self-exploration, where the filmmaker experiments with digital, VHS, and film formats to show how, just as he seeks his own language, the film itself follows this parallel search.

“My name is Ricardo Ruales and I have Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS), a rare congenital disorder that affected my craniofacial bone development and hearing. Due to this syndrome, I suffered from rhotacism (difficulty pronouncing the letter R), which complicated communication with my surroundings. At the age of 24, I decided to undergo speech therapy to correct it…,” Ruales shares in the film.

This moving story about family, heritage, and self-acceptance shows how Treacher Collins syndrome, a genetic disorder, prevented Ricardo from pronouncing his own name for years. Through his deeply personal journey — marked by multiple surgeries and profound reflections on his identity — Rotacismo is a powerful reminder of how cinema can not only document life but also serve as an essential tool to explore and accept who we truly are.

The production and academic coordination was supported by Soledad Santelices, coordinator of the Master’s in Production at ECPV. The film was part of the Sheffield DocFest 2023 Official Selection.

We invite you to discover this remarkable story: watch the trailer and immerse yourself in this courageous life testimony.