Skip to main content
Carajita film image, co-directors Silvina Schnicer and Ulises Porra Guardiola

Carajita

This event has passed

Canadian Premiere

Yarisa and Sara may be closer than most mothers and daughters, though they exist in totally different spheres of society. Yarisa is the maid for Sara’s wealthy family in the Dominican Republic—a family that, besides Sara, doesn’t see Yarisa as anything more than someone to clean the floors, polish the glassware, and take out the trash. Co-directors Silvina Schnicer and Ulises Porra Guardiola first introduce audiences to this story as one of innocence, dependence, and a deep love much stronger than any blood-relation can ever guarantee.

Things take a dark turn, however, when Yarisa makes an effort to reconnect with her own daughter, a girl around Sara’s age. When tragedy strikes, Yarisa must reevaluate her relationship with the family to whom she has given her heart and soul, and the girl she loves as much as her own child. With striking performances from the two outstanding leads, Carajita presents an unwavering consideration of class relations, unconditional love, and forgiveness.

Directors
Cast

Cecile Van Welie, Magnolia Núñez, Adelanny Padilla, Genesis Buret, Richard Douglas, Javier Hermida

Credits
Country of Origin

Dominican Republic/Argentina

Year

2021

Language

In Spanish with English subtitles

Film Contact
Links
18+
89 min
Award Winners Drama Women Directors

Book Tickets

This event has passed.

Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre

The Musicians

Dir. Grégory Magne
102 min

Brought together to perform a specially commissioned piece, a string quartet of virtuoso musicians descends into squabbling and animosity in this classy French comedy.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

The Nutcracker at Wethersfield

Dir. Annie Sundberg
83 min

Back in the long, dark Covid winter of 2020, there was no way the New York City Ballet could mount their traditional Christmas production of Tchaikovsky's fairytale. But choreographer Troy Schumacher had a dream to save the show -- reimagining a classic.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
More info

Sold Out

Auction

Dir. Pascal Bonitzer
91 min

Inspired by a true story, writer-director Pascal Bonitzer has crafted an inquiring, witty drama about the art market. When a long-lost Egon Schiele masterpiece reemerges, art appraiser Alex is initially skeptical. And yet...

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

The Tale of Silyan

Dir. Tamara Kotevska
81 min

From Oscar-nominee Tamara Kotevska (Honeyland), this is a poetic, curious and enchanting non-fiction fable about a farmer's son who turns into a stork.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Weapons

Dir. Zach Creggar
128 min

Why did a whole class of pre-teens (barring one kid) simultaneously disappear in the middle of the night? In what has been a banner year for horror films, Zach Creggar's Weapons is a film of outstanding originality and flair.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

La venue de l'avenir

Dir. Cédric Klapisch
124 min

Four cousins are tapped to investigate an abandoned house that is their joint inheritance. As they explore, they learn their story of their ancestor Adele (Suzanne Lindon) and her foray into Paris in the age of Impressionism.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Credits

Executive Producer

Ulla Prida

Producer

Alexandra Guerrero, Ulla Prida

Screenwriter

Ulla Prida, Silvina Schnicer, Ulises Porra

Cinematography

Ivan Gierasinchuk, Sergio Armstrong

Editor

Delfina Castagnino

Production Design

Claudia Madera

Original Music

Andrés Rodríguez

Directors

Silvina Schnicer headshot, Carajita co-director

Photo by Juan Naharro

Silvina Schnicer

Silvina Schnicer (Argentina) and Ulises Porra Guardiola (Spain) are both scriptwriters and directors. Together, they directed Tigre (2017), which premiered at TIFF and screened at San Sebastian Film Festival’s New Directors. Carajita, their second feature film, premiered at the 2021 San Sebastian Film Festival’s New Directors.

Filmography: Tigre (2017)

Ulises Porra Guardiola headshot, Carajita co-director

Photo by Juan Naharro

Ulises Porra Guardiola

Silvina Schnicer (Argentina) and Ulises Porra Guardiola (Spain) are both scriptwriters and directors. Together, they directed Tigre (2017), which premiered at TIFF and screened at San Sebastian Film Festival’s New Directors. Carajita, their second feature film, premiered at the 2021 San Sebastian Film Festival’s New Directors.

Filmography: Tigre (2017)