OUR TIME (original title: Nuestros tiempos) is more than just a story about going back in time; it’s also an emotional and visually moving trip through the years. This Spanish-language movie goes from 1966 to 2025 and was directed by Chava Cartas. It was written by Juan Carlos Garzón and Angélica Gudiño. But the setting in the real world that gives this fantastic story a sense of reality is just as interesting as the story of Nora and Héctor. One of the actors in the movie is Renata Vaca, who plays a supporting role. The other actor is Benny Ibarra, who plays Dr. Héctor Esquivel.
First, let us talk about the story. Then, we’ll talk about the real places where the movie was shot.
OUR TIME (2025) MOVIE STORY
In Mexico City in 1966, Nora Cervantes and her husband Héctor Esquivel are working on a revolutionary physics project to make a time machine. Even though Nora is very smart, she has to deal with a lot of sexism in school. With Héctor’s help, they keep going and finish a prototype using transducers that were brought in from the “Soviet Union”. But something goes wrong with their test run and they land decades instead of minutes into the future.
They wake up on a deserted train platform in the year 2025, lost and confused. They soon find out that they are still in Mexico City and set out for the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). There, they meet Julia, who used to be Nora’s student and is now a dean. Julia recognizes Nora right away.
As they change, Nora does well in the more fair scientific community of 2025, getting praise and invitations. For Héctor, though, the future is strange. He starts to feel like he doesn’t matter or isn’t noticed, which puts stress on their marriage. Eventually, Héctor feels overwhelmed by the change in culture and doesn’t belong, so he sneaks back to 1966. This breaks Nora’s heart but motivates her to go ahead on her own.
Years later, an aging Nora, now a renowned physicist, travels to 1996 to reunite with Héctor. Their reunion is bittersweet but filled with love, proving that time can bend, but love may never break.
OUR TIME FILMING LOCATIONS
Filmed entirely in Mexico, especially Mexico City, Our Time grounds its ambitious sci-fi plot in authentic and culturally rich locations. Filming reportedly took place from April to May 2024, and the cast and crew, under director Chava Cartas’ leadership, shared their deep emotional connection to the production.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Mexico City, the sprawling capital, served as the heart of the film’s production. Known for its blend of historic charm and modern urban life, the city provided contrasting backdrops for both 1966 and 2025. With state-of-the-art film studios, diverse architecture, and vibrant cityscapes, it was ideal for representing two very different time periods.
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO (UNAM)
The School of Architecture at UNAM, located in Coyoacán, doubled as the university where Nora and Héctor worked in 1966 and returned to in 2025. The site was instrumental in visually connecting the past and the future. Its modernist buildings and expansive campus offered flexible filming spaces—from classrooms to labs and open walkways, contributing to the film’s atmosphere.
UNAM is also symbolically significant: it’s a real-life hub of intellectual and scientific achievement, making it the perfect location for a story rooted in academic ambition and groundbreaking discovery.
COYOACÁN NEIGHBORHOOD
Several outdoor sequences were shot in and around the Coyoacán district, which adds a layer of historical richness to the narrative. Once home to Frida Kahlo and a cultural stronghold of Mexico City, this area helped create an authentic 1960s look while also seamlessly blending into the futuristic cityscape of 2025. Markets, narrow streets, and heritage buildings appear in flashback sequences, emphasizing the cultural contrast between decades.
ABANDONED TRAIN PLATFORM – STUDIO + LOCATION HYBRID
The time-travel scene—where Nora and Héctor arrive on an abandoned train platform—was likely filmed using a combination of practical set design and studio effects. While no specific location was publicly confirmed, it is believed that the production team used one of Mexico City’s many repurposed rail yards or metro stations, enhanced with VFX to create the futuristic, desolate feel of 2025.
INTERIOR LAB AND TIME MACHINE SETS
While some interiors were filmed at UNAM, others—especially those involving the time machine and scientific laboratories—were built in studio environments. Mexico City offers several modern sound stages such as Churubusco Studios, which may have hosted complex scenes requiring controlled lighting and CGI integration. These sets were essential for visualizing the mechanics of time travel without losing the film’s emotional core.
2025 CITYSCAPES AND BACKDROPS
The futuristic 2025 skyline is a mix of Mexico City’s actual skyline and digitally altered visuals. Drone shots and panoramic views captured the real urban sprawl, which were then enhanced with CGI to reflect societal progress and technological advancement. However, the filmmakers retained enough of the city’s true form to keep the story grounded and believable.
The decision to film entirely in Mexico and particularly in Mexico City added depth and authenticity to Our Time. The city itself acts as a character—witness to the evolving ambitions of Nora and Héctor, from a constrained past to an open future. Through this location-centric storytelling, the filmmakers managed to highlight not just a love story or a science experiment, but the cultural evolution of an entire society.
For fans curious about the intersection of cinematic storytelling and real-world history, Our Time is a visual and emotional journey that invites viewers to explore more than just what’s on screen.
Don’t miss out on more updates, an exclusive filming location deep-dives. Revisit netfilming.com soon for everything you need to know about this powerful time-travel drama.
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