Eréndira (1983)

Director:

Ruy Guerra

Writers:

Gabriel García Márquez (novel)
Gabriel García Márquez (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 June 1984 (Mexico)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

While Erendira, a beautiful teenage girl, has a surreal mystical vision, her grandmother's house catches on fire and burns to the ground...

Plot Keywords:

Prostitution | House | Grandmother's House | Fire | Forced Prostitution

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Irene Papas	...	Grandmother Amadis
Claudia Ohana	...	Erendira
Michael Lonsdale	...	Senator Onésimo Sanchez
Oliver Wehe	...	Ulysses
Rufus	...	Photographer
Blanca Guerra	...	Ulysses' mother
Ernesto Gómez Cruz	...	Grocer
Pierre Vaneck	...	Ulysses' father
Carlos Cardán	...	Smuggler
Humberto Elizondo	...	Blacaman
Jorge Fegán	...	Army commander
Francisco Mauri	...	Postman
Sergio Calderón	...	Truck driver
Martín Palomares	...	Escort
Salvador Garcini	...	Puppet-player

Also Known As:

Die unglaubliche und traurige Geschichte von der unschuldigen Erendira und ihrer herzlosen Großmutter (West Germany)
Erêndira (Brazil) [pt]
Erendira (Finland) [fi]
Erendira (Greece) (festival title) [el]

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

France | Mexico | West Germany

Language:

Portuguese | Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

México D.F., Mexico

Company:

Les Films du Triangle

Trivia:

Based on the story "La increíble y triste historia de la cándida Eréndira y su abuela desalmada" ("The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Eréndira and Her Heartless Grandmother"), by Nobel Prize-winning Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez.

Soundtrack:

Tortuga

Magically real and incredibly well done

Eréndira is a dark fairy tale covered in the blanket of magic realism that has become Gabriel García Márquez's trademark. Director Ruy Guerra has devoted a lot of attention to upholding the surrealistic undertones of the novel. The story itself unfolds like a bizarre daydream that follows a 14 year old Eréndira as she is plagued by the "wind of her misfortune." It is the wind that causes Eréndira to burn down her grandmother's lavish villa. Upon seeing the ruin and ashes the Grandmother informs Eréndira that "it would take a lifetime to back the debt you owe me." And so begins the young girl's life of prostitution. In order to earn back her money, the Grandmother sells Eréndira to countless men, day and night. It is only when Eréndira meets angelic Ulysses that her tortured life seemingly begins to change. Perhaps the most brilliant aspect of this movie is the role of the Grandmother, played by Irene Papas. She is carried around on a throne-like chair, wears grotesquely gaudy dresses and devours cake by the handful; all while dispensing cryptic advice to Eréndira. The power that the Grandmother has over the life of Eréndira is shocking yet morbidly interesting, as is she. This strong presence is the reason that her character commands the most attention in the film. Her greed and apparent indestructibleness is quite possibly representative of the many corrupt and powerful organizations and politicians that are present in Latin America and throughout the world.

Eréndira is a compelling movie to say the least. It is funny yet eerie, intriguing yet grotesque, and I thought it was amazing. Everything from the sound effects to the costumes work together to create the web of magic realism that dominates the film. If you like slightly dark stories of Latin American culture with a magical twist, Eréndira should be your first choice.