Las Marthas

The bordertown of Laredo, Texas hosts a celebration unlike any other. For 116 years, this Mexican American community has honored a man who never set foot in Laredo: George Washington. The highlight is a Colonial Ball in which Mexican American debutantes are presented as guests of Martha Washington. Las Marthas follows two of the girls as they prepare for this extraordinary rite of passage. The film unveils layers of tradition as questions arise regarding the nature of borders, biculturalism, and the performance of identity.