Prayers for the Stolen

« Tatiana Huezo delivers a delicate portrait of a childhood friendship, ephemeral but profoundly intense and hopeful, contrasted by the sordid cruelty of the reality that surrounds them highlighting the paradoxical nature of the Latin American country where human sweetness can be followed by the most absurd brutality. »
Variety

Synopsis

In a solitary town nestled in the Mexican mountains, the girls wear boyish haircuts and have hiding places underground. Ana and her two best friends take over the houses of those who have fled and dress up as women when no one is watching. In their own impenetrable universe, magic and joy abound; meanwhile, their mothers train them to flee from those who turn them into slaves or ghosts. But one day, one of the girls doesn’t make it to her hideout in time.

Festivals & Awards

  • 74th Cannes Film Festival: Un Certain Regard, Special Mention of the Jury, 2021
  • 17th Zurich Film Festival: Feature Film Competition, 2021
  • 65th BFI London Film Festival: First Feature Competition, 2021
  • 64th Ariel Awards (Mexican Academy): Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress to Mayra Batalla, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Make-Up

Director

Filmography

Cast

Ana Cristina, Ordóñez González, Marya Membreño, Mayra Batalla, Norma Pablo, Eileen Yáñez, Memo Villegas

Crew

Script: Tatiana Huezo
Cinematography: Dariela Ludlow
Sound design: Lena Esquenazi
Music: Jacobo Lieberman and Leonardo Heiblum
Editing: Miguel Schverdfinger
Production: Pimienta Films (MX)
Co-production: The Match Factory (DE), Desvia (BR), Bord Cadre films (CH), Louverture Films (US), Cactus Film & Video (MX), Jaque Content (AR), ZDF/arte (DE)

Technical data

Format: DCP / colour / 5.1
Runtime: 110′
Released: 2021
Language: Spanish
Subtitles: English, French
Original title: Noche de fuego