Film: Maria, Llena Eres de Gracia
"Maria Full of Grace"
USA/Colombia: Maria Llena Eres de Gracia
Director: Joshua Marston (2004)
Original Language: Spanish
Cast:
Catalina Sandino Moreno, Yenny Paola Vega, Virgina Ariza, Johanna Andrea Mora, Wilson Guererro, Jhon Alex Toro, Guilied Lopez, Patricia Rae, Orlando Tobon, Fernando Velasquez, Jaime Osorio Gómez
Might as well put up a review for one of my fav films i’ve watched so far in a couple of times. This film is absolutely a great one, especially on the acting department. This is Catalina Sandino Moreno’s debut film and it won a couple of awards already in international festivals and this actress was even nominated in the Oscars. Very impressive eh?
The story takes place in Colombia where Maria is working in a flower plant dethorning roses. She had a problem with the supervisor leading her to quit her job. Later on we learn of her pregnancy to Juan, but Maria couldn’t marry him because he doesn’t love her. Continuing her quest of looking another job, she stumbles into a man named Franklin (Alex Toro) and got a job in shipping drugs to the US. and the story continues on as i go on to my reactions of the film…
Its a very interesting film. You get to know another method of shipping drugs… and its through making people like Maria swallow more than 50 big pellets the size of a grape, letting it inside their stomach until they arrive in the place where they intend to ship it… i am WARNING PARENTS that THIS FILM IS NOT FOR KIDS! for i can see how true the actress does it as if she’s doing the job. You will really feel awful as you see one pellet go through the throat.
what’s nice about the film is the script. i’m studying spanish and despite fast and articulate tongues, they are very understandable. the scriptwriter did a very good job in selecting the words (well the translator who did the subbing did…) and the actors especially sandino moreno coveyed those words very effectively automatically with the emotions that goes with it. you feel like "yeah speak up those convincing words to make those villains shut up!" and stuff.
absolutely a great film!
Recognitions:
2004 Sundance Film Festival - Audience Award (Dramatic Competition)
2004 Berlin Film Festival - Silver Bear (Best Actress): Catalina Sandino Moreno
2004 Academy Award Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role
–jic 005005MMV1607H
