FLORA, When We Wish Upon a Star

At the dawn of the 20th century in the quiet neighborhood of Hermosa, Chicago, Flora Call Disney, a cultured former grammar teacher with unfulfilled dreams, feels trapped in the repetitive routine of motherhood and the societal expectations of being a wife. Pregnant with her fourth child and emotionally isolated, Flora begins to lose her sense of identity and creative spark.

Everything changes when a mischievous mouse, an expression of her forgotten inner fire, suddenly appears, disrupting her structured domestic world. Through its playful chaos, Flora rediscovers her passion for art and literature, reconnects with her children, and embraces a more present, imaginative form of motherhood. As she rekindles her own dreams, she also inspires her husband to reconnect with the child he once was.

FLORA, When We Wish Upon a Star is a poetic story of self-discovery, female empowerment, and the quiet, transformative magic of everyday life, where nurturing creativity becomes a gift passed on to the next generation, including a boy named Walt… destined to become a legend in animation history.

In 1901, in the Hermosa neighborhood of Chicago, Flora Call Disney is a bright, educated woman and mother of three boys, now pregnant with her fourth child. Feeling trapped by domestic life and the rigid societal roles imposed on women, Flora’s dreams of creativity and self-expression seem to fade. Her husband Elias is distant, and though Flora is cheerful and intelligent, she feels emotionally isolated.

Everything changes when a clever, persistent little mouse appears in her kitchen. Initially trying to shoo it away, Flora soon forms a magical bond with the mouse, who awakens her imagination, curiosity, and joy. This friendship rekindles her creative spirit and transforms her relationship with her children, inspiring her to nurture dreams and stories within her family.

As Flora reconnects with her passions, she discovers an old suitcase filled with childhood drawings and poems, a reminder of the woman she once was and hopes to be again. Her unborn son, lovingly nicknamed “little mouse,” grows surrounded by her love and imagination, his world painted by her emotions and creativity.

When the mouse is captured by a scientist, Flora faces a choice: remain confined by her domestic role or fight for her voice and freedom. Choosing courage and self-determination, she rescues the mouse—and in doing so, rescues herself. The film culminates in the birth of Walt Disney, not just a biological event but a celebration of creativity, love, and hope passed from mother to child.

FLORA, When We Wish Upon a Star is a poetic and magical tribute to the creative spirit of mothers everywhere, showing how the imagination and dreams of one woman sow the seeds for the legacy of a visionary son whose stories continue to inspire the world.

Director's note

FLORA was born from a deep desire to shed light on a vital, forgotten figure in the history of cinema: Flora Call Disney, Walt Disney’s mother. She was a silent yet essential force in Walt’s life, his confidant, his foundation, his inspiration and his first muse. Through her values, wit, and tenderness, she nurtured the creative spirit that would later change the world. From the shadows, she inspired that first magical impulse, the kind of love that shapes dreams before they become stories.
As a filmmaker and mother, I felt compelled to honor the creative power of women and the transformative force of motherhood. Through a poetic, symbolic and emotionally rich narrative, FLORA explores those invisible figures left out of history and fairy tales.
This hybrid feature film (fiction and animation) seeks to connect with audiences of all ages through a feminine, contemplative and inclusive perspective, using animation as a poetic language. It is a universal story with intergenerational and international appeal, created for children, teens and adults alike. FLORA is a return to the essentials: memory, imagination, and unconditional love, a timeless journey into the emotional roots of creativity.

Screenwriter's note

Writing FLORA, When We Wish Upon a Star has been a deeply personal journey. The screenplay grew from my desire to explore motherhood beyond clichés, revealing its complexities: the quiet struggles, the dreams set aside, and the emotional layers that often remain unseen. At the same time, motherhood has transformed me profoundly into a stronger, braver, and more loving woman. It has connected me with my gifts and talents, awakening the child I once was, a little girl who wrote and illustrated her own stories and poems from a very young age, through the love I have for my children and the empowerment this experience has given me.

Through this story, I wanted to give voice to the unspoken feelings of many women, while also opening a space where men can see and embrace their own sensitivity. The character of Flora’s husband represents this tender side, inviting viewers to reflect on the importance of reconnecting with their inner child and the softer aspects of their identity.

Moreover, I’m honored that CIMA selected my feature script, and since July, I’ve been participating in a program to refine and improve the draft with the guidance of mentors, top professionals from the Spanish film industry. This support has been invaluable in shaping the story into a more powerful and polished script.

My goal as a screenwriter has been to craft a poetic and honest narrative, one that balances intimacy with universal themes, and that resonates emotionally with a broad audience. Through films like this, the whole family can grow, learn, and gain. Children, too, can understand, embrace, and value the role of their parents more deeply.

FLORA celebrates the magic of motherhood and life itself (the power of heartfelt wishes) fulfilled through the strength and love that mothers carry within them.
This project is not only a story about a woman or a family, it’s an invitation to look inward and find strength in vulnerability.

Producer's note

As both the producer and director of FLORA, I’m proud to lead a passionate, international team of over 40 professionals and emerging artists, many of them animation students from U-tad Madrid and other schools. What began as a small indie idea has grown into a creative movement, driven by shared values and a deep emotional connection to the story. Despite working remotely and voluntarily, our team has built a strong artistic foundation using free software like Blender or Unreal Engine.

FLORA has already gained attention at leading animation forums like Animayo, Mundos Digitales, the Quirino Awards, Annecy, and is now selected for the Script Pool at Tallinn Black Nights. We’re now seeking funding to take the project to the next level, enabling us to professionalize our pre-production process and unlock additional support from investors, public grants, and crowdfunding platforms.

This is not just a film, it’s a heartfelt tribute, a shared dream, and a story with global resonance. We are ready to bring FLORA to life.