At 13, Rita (Giuliana Santa Cruz) flees from an abusive home life, only to be detained by the government in an all-girls shelter that resembles a prison. Though she has stopped believing in fairy tales, her fellow wards prophesize that she is the warrior angel who will liberate them from the wicked social workers and ogre-like guards who prey on their innocence. Determined to reunite with her little sister, Rita takes drastic measures to conduct an escape on International Women’s Day.
Evocative of early Guillermo del Toro, this magical realist fable from acclaimed Guatemalan writer-director Jayro Bustamante (La Llorona, Tremors) pairs a fantastical atmosphere with mature themes of real-world subjugation. The film’s aesthetics, from its stylized costuming to its dynamic wide compositions, create the illusion of a baroque painting come to life. A powerful tribute to the 41 victims of the 2017 blaze at the Virgen de la Asunsión orphanage in Guatemala, Rita immortalizes the revolutionary spirit and sisterhood of the girls who lost their lives while protesting unjust conditions.
Supported by
Media Partner
Community Partner
Sabrina De La Hoz, Margarita Kénefic, Ernesto Villagran, Glendi Rucal, María Telón, Juan Pablo Olyslage
Guatemala
2024
In Spanish with English subtitles
At International Village
At The Rio
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Ricardo Costianovsky, Tomás Darcyl, Matt Brodlie, Jonathan Kier, Davis Guggenheim
Producer
Jonathan King, Gustavo Matheu, Jayro Bustamante
Screenwriter
Jayro Bustamante
Cinematography
Inti Briones
Editor
Gustavo Matheu, Jayro Bustamante
Production Design
Angélica Perea
Original Music
Pascual Reyes
Jayro Bustamante
Jayro Bustamante, a Guatemalan director, producer, and writer, has gained international acclaim with films like Ixcanul (2015), Temblores (2019), and La Llorona (2019). His storytelling is deeply influenced by his childhood growing up in a Maya community on the shores of Lake Atitlán. He studied film in Paris and Rome before co-founding La Casa de Producción in Guatemala. His work has earned numerous awards and recognitions, including a Golden Globe nomination. Bustamante also founded Les Films Du Volcan, the Ixcanul Foundation, and is involved in various international film projects and campaigns.
Filmography: Ixcanul (2015); Temblores (2019); La Llorona (2019); 1991 (2021)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Hanging by a Wire
The Himalayas, Aug 22, 2023: a cable car bearing 8 passengers (six of them schoolkids) is left dangling 900 feet above the ground when two out of three cables snap. This nailbiting documentary recounts the increasingly frantic rescue attempts.
The Second Ascent: An Ultra Trail Running Story + Gary Robbins Q&A
After losing its globally recognized ultra trail running race in Whistler, race director Gary Robbins and his tight-knit team scramble to build a new 100km event in Valemount, a small mountain village betting its future on outdoor recreation.
Ryan Oliver Plays John Coltrane + Chasing Trane Documentary
To celebrate the centenary of the great John Coltrane, we're hosting a live performance by saxophonist Ryan Oliver and his quartet, followed by a screening of the definitive documentary, Chasing Trane (99 min).