Isabel Castro (MIJA)

Mija starts at a party store, to celebrate a birthday. It's one of many milestones in the life of Doris Muñoz that director Isabel Castro captures with charm and relatability as we see Muñoz suffer a huge career setback, then rebuild. Rejecting the tropes of depressing documentaries, she tells a story filled with incredible challenges, but also joy, hope and love.

Mija has all the calling cards of a great music movie, but it's also a magnificent story about immigration and two families' paths to the elusive American Dream. Muñoz's livelihood, and her family's security, depends on her ability to discover pop stars. She sees thrilling potential in Jacks Haupt, a young Texas singer-songwriter who could be the next big pop star.

In this episode, Castro talks with us about telling a different kind of immigration story, one that often feels more like an enthralling feature than a documentary. And we hear some pretty great music along the way, too.

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