“Cosmic Twins”, whose protagonists are inspired by the sculptures of artist Jorge Marín, is a multidisciplinary project combining music and visuals with historical and epic stories.

The film tells the colourful story of brothers Hun and Vucub Hunahpú, who shake the universe by playing ball. The lords of the underworld, annoyed, challenge them to play on their court under the ground, where they are murdered.

But the brothers’ remains make their burial site flourish, leading to the birth of cosmic twins Hunahpú and Ixbalanqué, who carry the spirit of their ancestors and return to the underworld to defeat the lords of death.

Mexican ambassador to Malaysia Edmundo Font says “Cosmic Twins” represents the multiculturalism of the two nations.

“The sacred book of Popol Vuh, from which ‘Cosmic Twins’ is inspired, treasures the wisdoms and traditions of Mayan culture, as the Ramayana and Mahabharata do for Hinduism as represented through wayang kulit,” he says.

The film will be accompanied by talks and origami workshops on the embassy’s Facebook page and through its channel on the Cultural Diplomacy platform next month.

The streaming of “Cosmic Twins” comes about as a collaboration between the Mexican embassies in Southeast Asia with the Jorge Marín Foundation and the University of the Cloister of Sor Juana.

Elena Catalán, director of the Jorge Marín Foundation, says this project aims to “establish a meeting between the peoples of Mexico and Southeast Asia through the translation of this short film into various languages of the region”, and to spread awareness on “the importance of rescuing native languages and cultures”.