Backbeats tells the story of Mateo, a young Latino artist, who reunites with Karen, the mother who gave him up as a teenager. What begins as a tense visit in his modest apartment becomes an emotional exploration of family wounds, cultural identity, and unspoken regrets. Through awkward conversation, buried resentments surface, but also glimpses of curiosity and connection. When Mateo reveals his refuge in drumming, Karen unexpectedly joins him—her own hidden passion for music bridging the painful years apart. In that shared rhythm, mother and son find a fragile, but profound moment of reconciliation.
