Movie Review: ‘Rita’

by | Nov 21, 2024 | Featured Post, Movie Reviews, Movies | 0 comments


Greetings again from the darkness. This would be a tough film to watch even if it wasn’t inspired by true events. Guatemala-born writer-director Jayro Bustamante w-d, Guatemala-born (LA LLORNA, 2019) serves up a fictionalized version of the 2017 tragedy at the Virgen de la Asuncion Safe House where 41 girls burned to death while protesting the abusive environment of the home and actions of the staff. The reality of the story elevates it from “tough to watch” to heartbreaking and anger-inducing.

Thirteen-year-old Rita (newcomer Guiliana Santa Cruz) escaped from a home situation where she and her younger sister were being abused. An incident puts her in the hospital, and from there the authorities escort her to a government-run safe house. It’s basically a quasi-prison facility for troubled kids. The adult caregivers look and act more like guards than guardians. As she re-tells her story, Rita admits upfront that this is her version of how she remembers it. We understand the memories and perception of a young girl may be slightly skewed, and it gives the filmmaker a bit of leeway, while making it more palatable for the viewers.

Fairy tales, fantasy, magic, and mystical beings come into play as Rita is dumped into the facility. Factions exist and are divided into groups called Angels, Stars, Wolves, Rainbows, etc. Rita, though initially hesitant to don the wings, becomes an Angel. The girl leaders in the home include Sulmy (Angela Quevedo) and Bebe (Alejandro Vasquez). It’s unsettling to see what the girls do to make do in the surroundings, and Rita holds firm to her belief that she doesn’t belong there and should be released. Margarita Kenefic plays Social Worker Ernestina with a look that could be a villain straight from a Guillermo Del Toro movie. She is downright creepy.

The girls plan a form of revolution, but sometimes revolutionists are forced into a group pee, followed by group cleanup. The climax involves a planned escape that goes sideways, followed by a harrowing situation that turns tragic thanks to poor decision making by all. Special recognition goes to cinematographer Inti Briones for camera work that adds realism to the odd elements presented here. The film is well made and anything but light-hearted entertainment, although the actual tragedy did (thankfully) lead to reform.

Will stream on Shudder beginning November 22, 2024

David Ferguson
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