Santitos (1999)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Alejandro Springall

Writer:

María Amparo Escandón (writer)

Release Date:

28 JANUÁR 2000 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Travel | U.S. Mexico Border | Female Nudity | Los Angeles California | Voyeurism

Awards:

8 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Dolores Heredia	...	Esperanza
Demián Bichir	...	Cacomixtle
Alberto Estrella	...	Ángel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pedro Altamirano	...	Ministerio Público
Roberto Cobo	...	Doña Trini
Roger Cudney	...	Scott Haines
Mónica Dionne	...	La Morena
Juan Duarte	...	Fidencio
Josefina Echánove	...	La Profesora
Felipe Ehrenberg	...	Alto
María Amparo Escandón	...	La Adicional
Ana Bertha Espín	...	Soledad
Flor Eduarda Gurrola	...	Paloma
Pilar Ixquic Mata	...	La Flaca
Paco Morayta	...	Don Arlindo
Olímpico	...	Manager del Ángel
Regina Orozco	...	Vicenta Cortés
Darío T. Pie	...	César
José Sefami	...	Dr. Ortiz
Georgina Tábora	...	Recepcionista
Fernando Torre Laphame	...	Padre Salvador
Luis Felipe Tovar	...	Doroteo
Claudio Valdés	...	San Judas Tadeo
Maya Zapata	...	Blanca

Also Known As:

Esperanza et ses saints (France)
Little Saints (Australia) (cable TV title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content and language.

Runtime:

Argentina:105 min

Country:

Mexico | France | Spain | Canada | USA

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures

Movie Connections:

Featured in SherryBaby (2006)

An Excellent and Very Respectful Comedy About Saints, Hope and Love

In Mexico, the very religious woman Esperanza (Dolores Heredia) has just lost her teenager daughter Blanca (Maya Zapata) in a simple throat surgery. The girl contracted an unknown virus, and had to be buried in a sealed closed coffin. While cooking at home, Esperanza sees the image of São Judas Tadeu projected on the dirty oven of her stove, who tells her that she shall look for her daughter. Esperanza, in her mind, believes the doctor sold her virgin daughter to some brothel and decides to look for her in many whorehouses in her town, in Tijuana and in Los Angeles. She confesses every vision she had and what she did to Padre Salvador (Fernando Toree Laphame), who advises her about how to she should have proceeded. Her journey begins in Mexico and ends in Los Angeles, where she meets the fighter Ángel (Alberto Estrella). They fall in love for each other. The end of this funny story is not corny. This film is one of the most intelligent comedies I have ever seen. Beginning with the name of each character: Esperanza means `hope'; Blanca means `white', the symbol of purity; Padre Salvador means `priest who saves'; Los Angeles means `the angels'; Paloma means `dove', the symbol of peace; Ángel means `angel'. Further, there are many jokes with saints, but all of them very respectful. The confessions of Esperanza, always after some confusion, are also hilarious. However, the beliefs of Esperanza are very respected until the last scene. She begins very fragile, but in the end she finds love and accepts the death of her daughter, although keeping her faith. The story, although being a love and hope story, is not corny. I liked it a lot. My vote is eight.