VIFF 2024: Rita
Put on your wings.
Guatemala, United States of America | Jayro Bustamante | Español | 107 minutes
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.
Saturday, October 5
9:00 pm
Advance tickets HERE
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VIFF thanks the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations for their continued stewardship of the unceded and occupied land on which our work takes place. As an organization founded and predominantly directed by settlers and immigrants, we understand our responsibility to seek out and build authentic relationships with Indigenous communities, and to allow this ongoing dialogue to influence our practices. As part of this process, we remain committed to collaborating with and supporting Indigenous artists, filmmakers, curators, and audiences.
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