criterionforum.org

La Llorona



A country's bloody history stains the present in the Guatemalan auteur Jayro Bustamante's transfixing fusion of folk horror and searing political commentary, inspired by the real-life indictment of the authoritarian Efraín Ríos Montt for crimes against humanity. A notorious, now aging former military dictator stands trial for atrocities committed against Guatemala's Mayan communities. While battling legal repercussions and the people's demands for justice, he and his family are plagued by a series of increasingly strange and disturbing occurrences, seemingly brought on by an enigmatic new housekeeper (María Mercedes Coroy). With a restraint that renders the film's shocks all the more potent, Bustamante crafts a chilling vision of a nation reckoning with collective harms and the restless ghosts of a past that refuses to die.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• 2K digital master, approved by director Jayro Bustamante, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• New interview with Bustamante
• Documentary on the making of the film featuring interviews with cast and crew
• Trailer
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: An essay by journalist and novelist Francisco Goldman

I initially mistook this for Ramón Peón's film - had no idea there was a recent film with the same title.

Not sure how true this film is to the classic Mexican legend, but there have been numerous adaptations over the years. I believe the Peón film was the first

This did look interesting in the Severin Folk Horror doc

Goldman’s a great choice for the essay; if the film or the subject matter piques people’s interest, I loved his book on the aftereffects of genocide and dictatorship in Guatemala, The Art of Political Murder: Who Killed the Bishop?

Unsuprisingly, this is being licensed from Shudder, but that discovery led me to an interesting fact: Shudder is owned by AMC, who also owns IFC. IFC and Shudder have recently been co-distributing films (examples being Watcher, Resurrection, and Mad God), with IFC handling theatrical and Shudder having streaming. Does the release of this film hint that films released by both may possibly be released by Criterion? Mad God may be a bit of a stretch (we are all aware of Criterion's weird relationship with anything animated), but Watcher and Resurrection look like they are right up their alley. Plus, it would confirm that their relationship with IFC is still active (I was somewhat under the impression that the release of Daddy Longlegs might have been a one-off thanks to the Sadfie's influence). Keep in mind, this is pure speculation on my end, but it does open up some interesting potential deals and releases for the future.

Computer Raheem wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2022 12:54 am Unsuprisingly, this is being licensed from Shudder, but that discovery led me to an interesting fact: Shudder is owned by AMC, who also owns IFC. IFC and Shudder have recently been co-distributing films (examples being Watcher, Resurrection, and Mad God), with IFC handling theatrical and Shudder having streaming. Does the release of this film hint that films released by both may possibly be released by Criterion? Mad God may be a bit of a stretch (we are all aware of Criterion's weird relationship with anything animated), but Watcher and Resurrection look like they are right up their alley. Plus, it would confirm that their relationship with IFC is still active (I was somewhat under the impression that the release of Daddy Longlegs might have been a one-off thanks to the Sadfie's influence). Keep in mind, this is pure speculation on my end, but it does open up some interesting potential deals and releases for the future.

Mad Godwould be unbelievable. I don’t think any details have been announced for a Blu-Ray release.

I just picked this up as a blind buy, and was hooked immediately when watching it. It uses the atmosphere of the horror genre to tell a fictionalized. story of the quest for truth, reconciliation, and justice following long genocidal war against the Mayan Ixil people by the Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt. La Llorona becomes a personification of Guatemala's sorrow and its people’s avenger.

Bustamonte’s first three films form a trilogy around three “insults” in Guatemala: its racism against its native people (Ixcanul), its homophobia (Tremors), and its persecution of “communists” — i.e., anyone supporting human rights or who had a critique of the government (La llorona). I’m very glad to have found this film, and now also somewhat disappointed it wasn’t released as a trilogy. (I know that would have been a much bigger economic risk on Criterion’s part, and I also haven’t seen the other two films yet.) Well worth picking up in the current sale.