La Llorona.
I heard of ‘La Kenefic’ long before I ever met her. Actress turned
guerrillera, turned Tai Chi instructor, turned film star, Margarita Kenefic has a reputation for creating epic drama on stage and screen. As she inches towards 70 her first foray into film, in Jayro Bustamante’s award-winning film
La Llorona, has won her international recognition for her role as the inscrutable wife of a General found guilty of committing genocide during Guatemala’s brutal internal armed conflict (1960-1996).
La Llorona’
It was not until I took my first Tai Chi class in 2016 that I finally met ‘La Kenefic’ face to face. Taller than the average Guatemalan, with a mane of silver hair reaching to her waist, Margarita has a commanding presence both on and off the stage. She took no notice of me at first, just another foreign do-gooder, and I was shy to approach, more than a little intimidated by the martial arts expert. A mutual friend introduced us and we discovered the
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In the public sphere, an elderly military leader stands trial for genocide. At home, he fares no better. Outside the walls of his house, swarms of protesters demand that he be convicted; within them, he is tormented by a mysterious female figure at night.
The critically acclaimed “La Llorona” is Guatemalan director Jayro Bustamante’s third feature film (after “Ixcanul” and “Tremors”). It is also now his second to be a contender for an Oscar: Selected as Guatemala’s official submission for international feature, it made the category’s shortlist on Feb. 9. (“La Llorona” is available in the U.S. on the streaming platform Shudder.)
Releases include Coming 2 America, My Salinger Year, Raya And The Last Dragon, and The Mauritanian 1 of 8 2 of 8
Our critics pick what’s new to streaming and VOD for the weekend of March 5, and list everything new to VOD and streaming platforms.
Coming 2 America
Coming To America was the
Black Panther of its time. The blockbuster starring Eddie Murphy as an African prince hiding in Queens fell just behind
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? in the competition for 1988’s box office crown. That was unheard for a movie with almost no white people. Murphy and his costar Arsenio Hall recently revealed that the only white person (Louise Anderson) in the otherwise all-Black cast was imposed upon them by Paramount Studios.
What’s new to VOD and streaming this weekend
Including Coming 2 America, My Salinger Year, Raya And The Last Dragon and The Mauritanian By Kevin Ritchie, Glenn Sumi, Norman Wilner and Radheyan Simonpillai
Mar 5, 2021
N
OW critics pick what’s new to streaming and VOD for the weekend of March 5. Plus: Everything new to VOD and streaming platforms.
Coming 2 America
(Craig Brewer)
Coming To America was the Black Panther of its time. The blockbuster starring Eddie Murphy as an African prince hiding in Queens fell just behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit? in the competition for 1988’s box office crown. That was unheard for a movie with almost no white people. Murphy and his co-star Arsenio Hall recently revealed that the only white person (Louise Anderson) in the otherwise all-Black cast was imposed upon them by Paramount Studios.
Oscars Predictions: Best International Feature - Tunisia s The Man Who Sold His Skin Surges Before Voting
Clayton Davis, provided by
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Variety s Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year s contenders in all categories. Variety s Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.