"Madeinusa is the name of a Peruvian village girl (she pronounces it 'mah-din-OO-sa'), the prettiest maiden in her remote mountain town, who wins the local competition to portray the Virgin Mary in the local religious festivities. Director Claudia Llosa employs the fairy tale structure of an outsider entering the Enchanted Forest, as a traveling gringo finds himself detained in this lice-ridden, rat-infested settlement populated by Indians. Who can blame the locals for releasing pressure in their annual carnival called the 'Holy Time'? Pulling the nails out of Christ's palms, lifting his figure down off the church crucifix and blindfolding the wooden lord, they free themselves to partake in all manner of debauchery with all rules and inhibitions suspended as they pour booze into open coffins, steal farm animals, and carouse amidst bonfires and blazing Catherine wheels. In this heart of wickedness, both the heroine's carnal-minded father (who's also the mayor) and the visiting wastrel respond to her virginal charms, and she determines to quit the oppressive small-town hypocrisy for the urban glamour of Lima. This elaborate production set in the pristine light of colorful coca-growing rural locations proceeds with a measured, often quiet style that very much concerns itself with the poisonous fate of young women in any remote inbred community, and provides a handsome showcase for actress Magaly Solier, whose sharp-angled Indio features effortlessly suit the camera. It also gives her the memorable line, 'I saw my name on your shirt!'" (www.brightlightsfilm.com/54/ciff.htm) more at filmmovement.com 35mm
2006, color, 1 hour 40 minutes, Peru