Real-life is often more horrifying than the imagination can conceive.
The so-called Virgen de la Asuncion Safe Home (orphanage) in San Jose Pinula, Guatemala was a despicable place. Housing up to eight hundred, the level of abuse was frightening. As well as rape by staff, common assault and sex trafficking are listed amongst the litany of offences between its opening in 2010 and 2017. The worst was yet to come.
On March 8th, 2017, fifty-one girls, aged 14-17, were locked in a small room. The act was a punishment as the previous day they tried to escape through the woods that surrounded the institute. They were captured by national guardsmen who then kept guard outside the room. Conditions deteriorated - food and water was scarce, urine and excrement increased. The girls begged to be released. They came up with a plan - they set fire to a mattress and yelled at the guards to let them out. The guards refused. The fire spread, nineteen girls died in the fire - others were rushed to hospitals but the total deaths rose to forty-one.
Is the new film from Shudder and Guatemalan director Jayro Bustamente exploitative of an horrific real-life tragedy or does it bring to the world's attention the knowledge that incredible abuses of children continue in some parts of the world to this very day? You can decide that for yourself.
In the movie, Rita first arrives at the orphanage to evade the abuse she suffered at home. In her mind, the other girls are divided into groups depending on how they behave - angels, bunnies, princesses, fairies, and punks. Some believe Rita is the fulfilment of a prophecy to release them from their torment. Can Rita fulfil that prophecy?
Bumpy in parts due to a limited budget, using non-professional actors, this is a movie that punches way above its weight - destined, I predict, to do well on the festival circuit.
The so-called Virgen de la Asuncion Safe Home (orphanage) in San Jose Pinula, Guatemala was a despicable place. Housing up to eight hundred, the level of abuse was frightening. As well as rape by staff, common assault and sex trafficking are listed amongst the litany of offences between its opening in 2010 and 2017. The worst was yet to come.
On March 8th, 2017, fifty-one girls, aged 14-17, were locked in a small room. The act was a punishment as the previous day they tried to escape through the woods that surrounded the institute. They were captured by national guardsmen who then kept guard outside the room. Conditions deteriorated - food and water was scarce, urine and excrement increased. The girls begged to be released. They came up with a plan - they set fire to a mattress and yelled at the guards to let them out. The guards refused. The fire spread, nineteen girls died in the fire - others were rushed to hospitals but the total deaths rose to forty-one.
Is the new film from Shudder and Guatemalan director Jayro Bustamente exploitative of an horrific real-life tragedy or does it bring to the world's attention the knowledge that incredible abuses of children continue in some parts of the world to this very day? You can decide that for yourself.
In the movie, Rita first arrives at the orphanage to evade the abuse she suffered at home. In her mind, the other girls are divided into groups depending on how they behave - angels, bunnies, princesses, fairies, and punks. Some believe Rita is the fulfilment of a prophecy to release them from their torment. Can Rita fulfil that prophecy?
Bumpy in parts due to a limited budget, using non-professional actors, this is a movie that punches way above its weight - destined, I predict, to do well on the festival circuit.
statistics: Posted by andrew.stephenson999 — 10:31 AM - 1 day ago — Replies 0 — Views 144