The film dictated by a child is on the one hand humorous, funny and cute, and on the other hand symbolic and critical. It's symbolic and critical in a way that it smartly highlights the interactions between black and white in a mixed ethnic community, and it portrays the repetitive lifecycle of the local people which is closely tied to their religious beliefs (Catholic and black magic/folklore). It is also critical of the consequence: powerful witches, people who blindly follow the orders, the ethnic/racial differences subtly reflected in everyday conversation. I give it a 7/10 because it successfully deals with serious issues in a comic and light way and allows me to know the cultural background in Venezuela better.
3 Reviews
Magic Reality and Ingenuity
jcperez_197410 November 2008
The venezuelan cinema is plagued of easy-effect movies, and most writers resort to the well-known formulas for appealing crowds: sex and violence. Add poverty and low production values due to tight budgets and voilá you get yourself an all-venezuelan movie. No wonder our cinema is not supported by many in the country.
However, La Virgen Negra (The Black Virgin) sweep aside the recipe and director Ignacio Castillo adventures itself into a more bold project, not re-inventing anything but making use of magnificent resorts already elaborated by Latin-American writers of the boom era.
In a coast town somewhere in the Caribbean, which we venezuelan viewers like to think is located in Venezuela, Manita (Carolina Torres) is troubled because his man does not want to please her anymore, so she seeks help in Lurdita played wonderfully by Angélica Aragón -Lurdita is a sort of mysterious local character who everyone knows have some obscure magical tricks- to make her husband love her again. Lurdita accepts to help her with one condition: Manita must have the town's virgin replaced by a black virgin that Lurdita will provide. The town at first rejects the ugly virgin but since Manita did the change supported by Ms. Isabel (Carmen Maura), the town leader, they ended up accepting the statue and even asking for miracles which start to happen all over the town. The only problem is the unlimited generosity of the black virgin to concede miracles to anyone who ask for one with the subsequent unexpected results.
The acting is very good, with a supporting cast assembled of seasoned hispanoamerican actors (Carmen Maura, Angélica Aragón, Francisco Díaz, Caridad Canelón) as well as new young promises (Geily Rosales who plays Negrita a young little girl with an unleashed tongue who provides most of the script's smiles). The vivid colors of the tropical scenery are treat to our senses and the witty script also by Ignacio Castillo, keeps us smiling almost every minute. The only thing I would criticized is the selection of the Franklin character as the voice in off, the script is too elaborated for making us believe that a 10 years old kid in a very isolated town with poor education could be capable of delivering it. It took away more opportunities for stealing smiles from the audience, but the movie is so charming that this mistake is easily forgivable.
La Virgen Negra is the proof that Venezuela can make honest cinema of good quality with a low budget.
However, La Virgen Negra (The Black Virgin) sweep aside the recipe and director Ignacio Castillo adventures itself into a more bold project, not re-inventing anything but making use of magnificent resorts already elaborated by Latin-American writers of the boom era.
In a coast town somewhere in the Caribbean, which we venezuelan viewers like to think is located in Venezuela, Manita (Carolina Torres) is troubled because his man does not want to please her anymore, so she seeks help in Lurdita played wonderfully by Angélica Aragón -Lurdita is a sort of mysterious local character who everyone knows have some obscure magical tricks- to make her husband love her again. Lurdita accepts to help her with one condition: Manita must have the town's virgin replaced by a black virgin that Lurdita will provide. The town at first rejects the ugly virgin but since Manita did the change supported by Ms. Isabel (Carmen Maura), the town leader, they ended up accepting the statue and even asking for miracles which start to happen all over the town. The only problem is the unlimited generosity of the black virgin to concede miracles to anyone who ask for one with the subsequent unexpected results.
The acting is very good, with a supporting cast assembled of seasoned hispanoamerican actors (Carmen Maura, Angélica Aragón, Francisco Díaz, Caridad Canelón) as well as new young promises (Geily Rosales who plays Negrita a young little girl with an unleashed tongue who provides most of the script's smiles). The vivid colors of the tropical scenery are treat to our senses and the witty script also by Ignacio Castillo, keeps us smiling almost every minute. The only thing I would criticized is the selection of the Franklin character as the voice in off, the script is too elaborated for making us believe that a 10 years old kid in a very isolated town with poor education could be capable of delivering it. It took away more opportunities for stealing smiles from the audience, but the movie is so charming that this mistake is easily forgivable.
La Virgen Negra is the proof that Venezuela can make honest cinema of good quality with a low budget.
The black virgin
jotix10016 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Our main interest in watching "La virgen negra" was the promise of catching Carmen Maura, one of Spain's best actresses in an unknown setting. The film is an effort by Venezuelan director Ignacio Castillo Cottin to take the viewer into that unknown territory of magic realism we have been exposed by the likes of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and other Latin American writers.
We are taken to a coastal town in Venezuela, where a Spaniard lady, Isabel had arrived after the Spanish Civil War, carrying the bodies of three sons she lost in the conflict. The little town was mainly inhabited by blacks of the area. As the action begins, the town is being threatened by vandals that are sweeping the area, destroying anything they see.
Manita, a beautiful young woman, has a problem; her man will not touch her. When she consults the town's seer, Lurdita, she is told to change the image of the town's holiest icon for that of a black virgin, who according to her, will change everything in the small town. The only thing is they must be sincere in asking for favors, as the virgin will give the town and its inhabitants her blessings in return. Suffice it to say that Manita sees her wish granted.
This Venezuelan film was shown on cable recently. Although it was a good effort, some of the acting is uneven, at best. Angelia Aragon, who plays Lurdita fares best. Carolina Torres has some good moments. Carmen Maura does not have much to do.
We are taken to a coastal town in Venezuela, where a Spaniard lady, Isabel had arrived after the Spanish Civil War, carrying the bodies of three sons she lost in the conflict. The little town was mainly inhabited by blacks of the area. As the action begins, the town is being threatened by vandals that are sweeping the area, destroying anything they see.
Manita, a beautiful young woman, has a problem; her man will not touch her. When she consults the town's seer, Lurdita, she is told to change the image of the town's holiest icon for that of a black virgin, who according to her, will change everything in the small town. The only thing is they must be sincere in asking for favors, as the virgin will give the town and its inhabitants her blessings in return. Suffice it to say that Manita sees her wish granted.
This Venezuelan film was shown on cable recently. Although it was a good effort, some of the acting is uneven, at best. Angelia Aragon, who plays Lurdita fares best. Carolina Torres has some good moments. Carmen Maura does not have much to do.
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