I had the wonderful experience of watching this film with my Quiché goddaughter, who found the story real and compelling. Maria, 17, is betrothed by her parents to a young man--a decision in which she has no say. Her heart, however, leads her in another direction and therein lies the story's heart. The reality of daily life for thousands of Mayan Guatemalans, many of whom speak only their indigenous language, is conveyed with a realism that never patronizes. It is the daily struggle for life, for work, and dealing in an emergency with a power structure that is far from the experience of those who must confront it. One comment about the description: The film is bilingual: Spanish and Kakchiquel, one of 22 Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala, none of which can communicate with the other. I asked my goddaughter--who is trilingual (Kiché, Spanish, and English)--if she understood any of the Kakchiquel dialogue. "No" was her answer.
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