Macario (Ignacio López Tarso), an impoverished wood-cutter dreams of being able to have an entire roast turkey to himself but when his wife (Pina Pellicer), who is worried that her obsessed husband will starve before eating anything less, cooks a stolen a bird for him, he is confronted by three supernatural entities, each of whom ask for a portion. When Macario finally agrees to share his bounty, he is rewarded with miraculous healing powers, which make him both riches and enemies, and eventually attracts the attention the Spanish Inquisition (who nobody expected). As Macario remains a decent fellow despite his abrupt rise in social status, the ending is a bit less predictable than usual for these kinds of fable. The black and white cinematography, dreamy and surreal at times, is striking and both López Tarso and Pellicer are very good (Pellicer was so pretty and fragile-looking (at least in the films in which I have seen her), I am always saddened thinking of her early tragic death). The film features much 'Day of the Dead' skeletal imagery that, despite being carvings and puppets, is quite creepy at times. Watched on-line with English subtitles.
Review of Macario
