The creative process of Popel is based on an immersive narrative that combines documentary elements with the dynamism of a thriller. The story unfolds through unexpected twists and multiple narrative threads that capture the viewer’s attention. The documentary intertwines three major narratives: the story of Anjel Lekuona and other deportees, the search for their relatives 80 years later, and the bravery of František Suchý and his son, who defied Nazi orders to preserve the ashes of more than 2,200 victims. These stories combine smoothly, linking the past and present in a dynamic structure. This entire historical reconstruction is supported by moving testimonies, unpublished archives, and animated sequences that provide a poetic dimension, representing the symbolism of the ashes that connect the protagonists.

Animation plays a key role in bringing to life scenes for which there are no visual records, using a style that dissipates like dust, evoking the passage of time and the fragility of memory. At the same time, the soundtrack, created by Aitor Etxebarria, intensifies the sensory immersion.