La Llorona (2019)

Director: Jayro Bustamante
Stars: Maria Mercedes Coroy, Sabrina De La Hoz, Margarita Kenéfic
Runtime: 97 minutes

Synopsis: An aging paranoid war criminal, protected by his faithful wife, faces death while being haunted by the ghosts of his past.

Verdict: Guatemala’s official submission for the Oscars, which snatched a Golden Globes nomination a few days ago, had no right to be this good. Don’t confuse it with Warner Bros’ underwhelming feature about the same Latin American folklore because the two take vastly different approaches in introducing the myth to their respective narratives. While the sixth chapter in the Conjuring Universe was a full-on horror flick, “La Llorona” takes a more dramatic approach, utilizing the legend to provide a thought-provoking commentary on corruption and genocide in Latin America.

The Weeping Woman in Jayro Bustamante’s film, wonderfully played by Maria Mercedes Coroy, is a symbol of revenge and justice. She offers her services to a retired war criminal (loosely based on real-life dictator Efraín Ríos Montt) accused of orchestrating the Guatemalan genocide of Native Mayans, and uses that opportunity to avenge those who lost their lives because of his despicable actions in the absence of a fair judicial system.

The movie’s slow pacing and patient unfolding of events will most certainly turn off those who came expecting another horror trip, but will reward those seeking a meticulously crafted political drama. Its unique take on the tale was captivating and worked incredibly well within the context of the narrative, providing the audience with insight into Guatemalan history through a supernatural lens.

I was truly taken aback by the quality of “La Llorona”, which I hope will find its audience during the coming awards season. As of now, it’s the movie I’m rooting for most to get a Best International Feature nomination at the Oscars but even if it doesn’t, I strongly recommend you give it a try.

FINAL GRADE: 8/10