Maria Full of Grace

Excellent film, although not quite what I was expecting from, I guess, trailers and reviews from last year. It’s more El Norte than the Latin American Requiem for a Dream I was steeling myself for. Catalina Moreno is incredible, especially for her first film. The globalization links — the flowers being sold on the street in Queens, after being packaged by exploited workers in Colombia, not to mention the cocaine — are useful, and, despite a growing realization that one will be set up for an emotional motherhood appeal, the story is compelling and moving.