Elisa Before the End of the World 1997

Drama

Runtime

80 mins

Language

Spanish

Directed by

Rubén Rojo Aura

Made by

Videocine

Test your knowledge of Elisa Before the End of the World with our quiz!

Elisa Before the End of the World Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Elisa Before the End of the World (1997). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Elisa Sherlyn and her family live in a modest apartment in Colonia Roma, a neighborhood in Mexico City that sits on the edge of affluence and struggle. They are sliding into a deep financial crisis, with the looming threat that they could lose their car, their furniture, and even their home if debts pile up. Their situation grows tenser after her father reveals a stark, almost apocalyptic idea: when the world is about to end, humanity might have to subsist on cockroaches. This unsettling thought sets a grim tone for what follows.

Elisa tells this to Miguel Imanol, her younger neighbor and friend, and together they start collecting cockroaches in a plastic box, turning a macabre omen into a growing preoccupation around their shared roof-top adventures. One day, they meet Paco Rubén Rojo Aura, a punk kid who sneaks onto their rooftop to raid a neighboring building for chickens, drawing Elisa and Miguel into a more troubling world than they imagined.

A visit from Gómez, a bank employee, makes the family’s precarious finances even clearer: if her father cannot pay his debt, they could lose not only the car but also the furniture and even the apartment itself. To raise money, Elisa’s parents sell the television and a gun her father once owned, hoping to buy some time. Elisa decides to look for a job to help the family weather the crisis. Paco hints that he has access to something from his brother that could help them earn money, nudging Elisa toward making riskier choices.

The next day, Paco shows Elisa a gun his brother used for robberies, but the weapon has no bullets. Elisa contemplates robbing a store to pull in cash; however, after another visit from Gómez, she shifts her plan and targets the bank itself, deciding to seize the moment while the opportunity presents itself. As a test of nerve, Elisa and Paco visit a toy store and threaten an employee to steal two pairs of roller skates, a bold move that exposes how far they’re willing to go.

Elisa updates Paco about the toy-store theft, but he confesses that the gun had no bullets, since he could not obtain any ammunition. She then remembers that the bullets might still be somewhere in the house and sets out to find them, eventually discovering them hidden in her parents’ closet. The day of the planned robbery arrives: Elisa meets Gómez outside the bank as he starts his day, while Miguel and Paco wait across the street, each of them braced for what could unfold.

They enter together, with Elisa joining the queue and prepared to use the weapon. Before she can act, an armed group storms the bank, firing as they declare a robbery. Outside, Paco attempts to enter the bank but is shot dead by an accomplice. Inside, Elisa is caught in the crossfire and dies as the chaos erupts around her.

The final scene unfolds on the rooftop: Miguel stands with a dead cockroach from Elisa’s collection, placing it carefully on the edge of the fence as he mourns the loss of his two friends and gazes out over the city they once inhabited with hopeful, fragile dreams.

Elisa Before the End of the World Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Elisa Before the End of the World (1997) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Financial crisis hits the family in Colonia Roma

Elisa's family is caught in a severe financial crisis, with the car at risk due to her father's overdue payments. He tells Elisa a bleak idea about humanity subsisting on cockroaches when the world ends, a notion that shapes their desperate mood. The family struggles to keep their home and basic possessions from being taken away.

present day Colonia Roma, Mexico City

Elisa and Miguel start collecting cockroaches

Elisa tells Miguel about her father's remark and the two begin collecting cockroaches in a plastic box. They turn their small act into a makeshift effort to cope with hunger and financial pressure. The cockroach box becomes a symbol of their survival drive.

shortly after the crisis begins Elisa's home, Colonia Roma

Paco enters their rooftop world

They meet Paco, a punk kid who sneaks onto their rooftop to steal chickens from a neighboring building. He quickly becomes a partner in their risky plans, sharing his own schemes. The rooftop becomes a meeting place for their uneasy alliance.

one day after rooftop of a neighboring building

Gómez visits and explains debt consequences

Gómez, a bank employee, explains that if Elisa's father cannot repay the debt, the bank could take the car, furniture, and even the apartment. The family is pushed further toward desperation as their possessions are threatened. The visit marks a turning point toward crime as a means to survive.

after Gómez's visit Elisa's apartment

Sells assets; Elisa decides to work

In response to mounting pressure, the family sells their television and a gun to raise money. Elisa resolves to find a job to contribute to the household's finances. The decision shifts the family from passive worry to active risk.

soon after Gómez's visit home

Paco hints at a way to earn money

Paco tells Elisa and Miguel that he has something of his brother's that could help them make money. The suggestion introduces a potential criminal plan and tension within their group. His confidence is enough to push Elisa toward considering a robbery.

the next day neighborhood streets / hangout area

Gun shown; toy store robbery as test

Paco shows Elisa a gun that his brother used in robberies, noting that it has no bullets. As a test, the pair enters a toy store and, after threatening an employee, steal two pairs of roller skates. The exercise reveals how far they are willing to go to raise funds.

the next day toy store

Bullets exist; bullets found in the house

Paco explains the gun had no bullets, and they could not obtain any. Remembering that the gun was sold but bullets might still be somewhere in the house, Elisa searches the parents' closet and discovers a stash of bullets. This discovery changes the feasibility of the bank robbery plan.

the following day Elisa's home

The day to rob the bank approaches

Elisa meets Gómez outside the bank as he arrives for work, while Miguel and Paco wait across the street. She lines up in the bank queue, preparing to use the gun if needed. The plan is set, relying on timing and the chance of a chaotic moment.

on the day of the robbery outside and near the bank

The bank raid triggers chaos; deaths

An armed group storms the bank, catching everyone off guard. Paco is shot dead outside as he tries to enter, while Elisa is caught in the crossfire inside and dies. The violence ends their plan and marks a fatal turn for both friends.

same day as the robbery bank and street outside

Miguel mourns on the rooftop

In the final scene, Miguel stands on the rooftop with Elisa's cockroach collection, removing a dead cockroach and placing it on the edge of the fence. He mourns the deaths of Elisa and Paco, lost to a desperate act of survival. The rooftop setting frames the story's quiet, lingering tragedy.

after the bank robbery apartment rooftop

Elisa Before the End of the World Characters

Explore all characters from Elisa Before the End of the World (1997). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Elisa (Sherlyn)

Elisa is a resourceful teenager whose family is overwhelmed by debt. She steps into riskier schemes to help her family survive, showing determination but also a willingness to cross moral lines. Her arc culminates in a tragic act during a bank robbery, highlighting the cost of desperation.

👧 Protagonist 💡 Determined 🧭 Moral conflict

Miguel (Imanol)

Miguel is Elisa’s younger neighbor and friend who becomes swept up in her plans. He is loyal and curious, growing into a witness to the violence surrounding them. He survives the events but is left mourning the loss of his friends at the end.

🧒 Loyal 🧭 Curious 🕊️ Survivor

Paco (Rubén Rojo Aura)

Paco is a punk kid who hangs around the rooftop and becomes involved in Elisa’s schemes. He represents a reckless option and is ultimately killed during the bank robbery, marking the dangers of their improvised plans.

🧑‍🎤 Rebellious 🔫 Risk-taker 💔 Fatal consequence

Gómez

Gómez is a bank employee who visits Elisa’s family to discuss their debt, illustrating the power of financial institutions over personal lives. His presence foreshadows the collision between personal desperation and systemic pressure.

🏦 Bank official 💬 Debt pressure ⚖️ Authority

Elisa's Father

Elisa’s father is the driver of the family’s debt, explaining that debt and potential loss loom large if payments are not made. He sells the television and a gun to raise money, capturing the strain and fear impacting the family unit.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family man 💵 Debt ⚠️ Pressure

Elisa's Mother (Susana Zabaleta)

Elisa’s mother shares the burden of the family’s financial crisis, offering support while navigating the threat of losing their home. Her role anchors the emotional core of the family’s struggle and resilience.

👩‍👧‍👦 Family matriarch 💔 Strain 🏠 Home

Miguel's Mother (Claudia Goytia)

Miguel’s mother is part of the surrounding family network, providing context for the community that supports Elisa and Miguel. Her presence helps ground the story in a broader social fabric.

👩‍👦 Family 🏘️ Community 🧭 Support

Elisa Before the End of the World Settings

Learn where and when Elisa Before the End of the World (1997) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Present day

The events unfold in a contemporary urban setting, reflecting current concerns around debt, unemployment, and family resilience in Mexico City.

Location

Colonia Roma, Mexico City

Elisa and her family live in an apartment in Colonia Roma, an urban neighborhood in Mexico City. The setting centers on a middle-to-upper-middle-class family facing a deep financial crisis that threatens their home and belongings. The streets, rooftops, and mixed-use blocks of Colonia Roma ground the story in a realistic contemporary city environment.

🏙️ Urban neighborhood 💸 Economic precarity 🏢 Apartment living

Elisa Before the End of the World Themes

Discover the main themes in Elisa Before the End of the World (1997). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💸

Poverty

The family’s mounting debts push them toward drastic measures as they struggle to keep their car, furniture, and apartment. The film examines how financial strain reshapes choices and pushes young people toward risky solutions. Desperation becomes a driving force behind actions with tragic consequences.

💔

Friendship

Elisa and Miguel form a close bond in a precarious environment, relying on each other to navigate escalating danger. Their friendship is tested by escalating risks, deception, and violence. The story ultimately centers on how loyalty and trust endure even as it ends in loss.

🏙️

Urban Violence

The narrative builds tension through the threat of crime, gunfire, and public confrontation in a dense city setting. Bank robbery plans and rooftop schemes turn everyday spaces into sites of danger. The film uses urban violence to critique social inequality and its spillover into ordinary life.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore the mobile app

Elisa Before the End of the World Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Elisa Before the End of the World (1997). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the bustling maze of Mexico City’s Colonia Roma, a neighborhood perched between the shimmer of affluence and the shadows of struggle, life unfolds in cramped apartments where the hum of traffic mingles with the sighs of families barely keeping afloat. The streets pulse with a mix of hope and hardship, and the modest home of Elisa feels the pressure of unpaid debts threatening to strip away the few comforts they have managed to acquire—most recently a newly‑bought car that now hovers on the brink of loss. The ambient tone is one of quiet desperation, laced with the odd, unsettling conversations about the world’s possible end, a notion that colors the everyday with a surreal, almost apocalyptic hue.

Elisa, a ten‑year‑old whose bright curiosity clashes with the weight of adult worries, watches her parents scramble to sell cherished items in a bid to stave off ruin. She befriends Miguel, the shy neighbor who shares rooftop adventures, and together they turn the grim talk of cockroaches into a secret pastime, collecting the insects as a strange comfort. Their circle widens when Paco, a punk‑spirit kid, drifts into their world, introducing a restless edge that tempts the children to contemplate possibilities far beyond their ordinary games. The friendships are tinged with both innocence and an unspoken yearning for control in a life that feels increasingly out of their hands.

Against this backdrop of looming financial collapse, Elisa begins to entertain a daring, perhaps reckless, notion of securing the family’s future through a bold, unconventional plan. The idea flutters between frantic imagination and sober resolve, reflecting a tone that balances youthful audacity with the stark realism of their environment. As the city’s lights flicker over the rooftops, the stage is set for a tension‑laden journey where the line between survival and danger blurs, leaving the audience to wonder how far a child’s ingenuity will carry her when the world seems to teeter on the edge.

Can’t find your movie? Request a summary here.

Movies with Similar Twists and Themes

Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.