Sundance Title ‘The Fishbowl’, From Puerto Rico, Scores North American Deal​on February 5, 2025 at 3:34 pm

EXCLUSIVE: Monument Releasing has acquired North American theatrical rights to Puerto Rican ecofeminist drama The Fishbowl (La Pecera), which recently debuted at the Sundance Film Festival.

The debut of writer-director Glorimar Marrero Sánchez is set to debut in U.S. theaters in March 2025, coinciding with Puerto Rican Emancipation Day on March 21. A streaming release will follow on May 21, 2025.

The Spanish-language film is one of only a few Puerto Rican-produced features to ever premiere at Sundance.

Set on the island of Vieques—a U.S. military testing ground for toxic munitions like napalm, depleted uranium, and Agent Orange—The Fishbowl tells the story of Noelia (Isel Rodríguez), a 40-year-old artist grappling with terminal cancer. Determined to use her remaining time resisting the ecological and social consequences of U.S. colonialism, Noelia’s journey unfolds as both a personal and collective act of resilience.

After discovering her cancer has returned and metastasized, Noelia retreats to her home in Vieques, where she reconnects with her mother and her community. Choosing to keep her illness a secret in the absence of local medical care, she devotes herself to protesting the enduring environmental devastation caused by military activity. As a hurricane looms and her health deteriorates, she rekindles a past romance and faces a profound decision: to leave and seek treatment or to remain with her people and her cause.

Producers are Canica Films, Solita Films and Auna Producciones. Cast comprises Isel Rodriguez (Noelia), Modesto Lacén (Juni), Magali Carrasquillo (Flora), and Maximiliano Rivas (Jorge). Visit Films handles sales.

Monument Releasing stated: “The history of Puerto Rico is a parallel to the history of colonization and the rise of the United States as a world power. The Fishbowl takes this multi-century narrative and focuses it on a very human and personal story, set in modern times. Told with an empathetic paintbrush we believe audiences will be excited to learn more about the island’s story and will relate to the strong women that populate this magnificent film, both in front of and behind the camera.”