Political Horror LA LLORONA is Guatemala’s First Academy Awards Entry
Josh Millican
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A contender for Best Horror Movie of 2020, the political horror La Llorona is also Guatemala’s first Academy Awards entry. A reimagining of the legend of the “Weeping Woman” the film is available to stream on Shudder.
The political horror film reimagines the real-life events surrounding the court case of dictator Efraín Ríos Montt for the genocide of indigenous Mayans, and spins the iconic Latin American fable of La Llorona as an urgent metaphor for Guatemala’s recent history, which you can learn more about HERE, (courtesy of Oxfam in partnership with Shudder).
Synopsis:
Indignant retired general Enrique finally faces trial for the genocidal massacre of thousands of Mayans decades ago. As a horde of angry protestors threatens to invade their opulent home, the women of the house—his haughty wife, conflicted daughter, and precocious granddaughter—weigh their responsibility to shield the erratic, senile Enrique against the devastating truths being publicly revealed and the increasing sense that a wrathful supernatural force is targeting them for his crimes. Meanwhile, much of the family’s domestic staff flees, leaving only loyal housekeeper Valeriana until a mysterious young Indigenous maid arrives.
A tale of horror and magical realism, the film reimagines the iconic Latin American fable as an urgent metaphor of Guatemala’s recent history and tears open the country’s unhealed political wounds to grieve a seldom discussed crime against humanity. La Llorona marks Jayro Bustamante’s third feature and demonstrates his continued efforts to highlight social inequality in his native Guatemala following his previous titles Temblores (2019) and Ixcanul (2016).
Have you seen La Llorona? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
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