The road to recovery is rarely linear. This is especially true in the experimental documentary, Màquina. In this deeply personal portrayal, filmmaker Joaquim Adrià Pujol captures his own family’s turbulent journey towards healing and enlightenment. Consumed by the generational cycle of addiction and trauma, Pujol fully immerses the viewer in the grueling uphill battle that overcoming addiction entails.

Choosing the Road Less Taken

Xavi Pujol Berlanga and his son, Marcel Enric Pujol, find themselves at a crossroads when their addictive behaviors threaten to derail their lives. After decades of suppressing emotional turmoil and trauma, both father and son agree that now is the time to “break out of their own bullshit.” In lieu of traditional treatment or rehab, Marcel is optimistic about an alternative plan, which includes a road trip in an RV across the American West while using ibogaine, a type of plant medicine from Africa that rapidly reduces withdrawal symptoms and substance dependencies. Xavi, who is initially resistant to Marcel’s psychedelic-assisted treatment plan, eventually agrees. What follows is an unconventional journey that weaves through physical and emotional hurdles, sending father and son on a path toward judgment-free healing.

The Vulnerability of Complete Immersion

Director Joaquim Adrià Pujol’s raw, grounded approach to telling this story is what makes Màquina so visceral. His up close and personal relationship to the characters, who are literally his father and brother, creates an immediate bond and trust with the audience. The production is lo-fi and minimalist; there are no overly produced setups or expensive gear in sight. Yet what the film lacks in budget, it more than makes up for in storytelling. This documentary is more than just a story of redemption and recovery. It’s an emotionally deep, lyrical exploration that acts as a testimonial to shedding a past that no longer serves you.

Director’s Statement

“Màquina is a personal reckoning, a deeply intimate exploration of the threads that bind family, addiction, and healing. This film is rooted in my own experience, a journey through the heart of a complicated father-son relationship shaped by generational trauma and substance use. Màquina is an exploration of harm reduction in the treatment of addiction. The film resists easy answers, leaning instead into emotional nuance and the raw, often uncomfortable truths of loving someone through their struggle.

By inviting viewers into this vulnerable process, I hope to challenge the stigma surrounding addiction and honor the imperfect, persistent effort of showing up for one another even when the path forward is uncertain.” – Joaquim Adrià Pujol, director

Takeaway

Màquina‘s exploration of codependency, set against the American West, is a powerful portrait of strength, beauty, and aliveness. The film recently premiered at the 2026 Brooklyn Film Festival.