Madeinusa

I had the pleasure of seeing this movie on the last night of my first Peru vacation. The actors inhabited their characters and were very well defined. Madeinusa, the main character was scary in her "innocent evil" yet she remained sympathetic throughout the story. I found it hard to believe she had no previous acting experience. The story was captivating. It pulled me in from the start and spat me out wanting at its ending. I'll never look at the period between Good Friday and Easter Sunday the same way again. The scenery and cinematography was breathtaking and went a long way to carry the mood of the film.

I can't wait for the US release. This film is a must-see!

We have seen so many documentary films concerning Peru and it's people, that it is hard to realize that this is NOT a documentary and is a fictional piece of work, and has to be taken as such. It is not a mirror of reality. There are people, however, who do take it as reality, usually those people have deep racial complexes, and who can use the film as a way of saying, "I told you so", are regards the behaviour and customs of the villagers, as shown fictionally in the film. Of course, the film has taken it's main ideas from real customs, but have dressed them up, exploited them and blown them out of proportion. But that is what art is all about, and the film has to be taken as such, pure art.

I'm a Peruvian citizen living in Spain; but I must say this is an awful movie when it comes to make a portrait of rural Peru: probably the director intended to impress pseudo-intellectual European film critics (as in Malaga Festival) but definitely if you try to reflect the harness of some realities you should put a bit of humanity (and some realism) into it. Start, by the way, watching some Fernando León films, Claudia Llosa!! It's a pity there are so very few interesting Peruvian films anyhow, but the least we need is another non-resident high-class Peruvian spreading around a kitsch and misinformed view of our land. So: I think it's not worth the money, and it's also deeply disgusting.

Claudia Llosa explained many times why she made this film (It doesn't matter if she IS Peruvian or not... anyway, she IS.

It's not a documentary. It's not a mockumentary. It's not a portrayal of reality. It's not a film to raise racial prejudices. It's not a film abusive of the people portrayed on it.

It's this crazy idea (a script idea that came out of a "dream") of what would it be like if a town (BTW: Manayaycuna actually means the place no-one-can-enter and is non-existent) believed that during three days there's no sin, since "God is dead".

Better approach it with the motto of "it's just a film, it's just a film"

It's a difficult film to watch, but, nonetheless, a work of fiction, so don't take it so personal. Some filmmakers in the world, and some writers -as I do, have found this film remarkable in many aspects.

When I read a comment calling names to whoever chooses to watch this film just for that decision... well, that person shouldn't be allowed to post here!

A Peruvian misery fest, boringly and beautifully presented. Solid C.