Ana is growing up in the beautiful mountain landscape of the Mexican state of Guerrero. But the beauty stands in stark contrast to the brutality with which the drug cartels rule the region. From an early age, Ana and her friends have to learn how to avoid falling into the hands of traffickers. They make themselves look like boys, and hide in holes in the ground.
Meanwhile, Guerrero is emptying as families flee the unbearable situation. Men try to find work elsewhere; mothers can’t stop their daughters from growing into young women, nor can they always be there to protect them.
Tatiana Huezo adapted Jennifer Clement’s novel of the same name into this documentary-like fiction debut. Prayers for the Stolen shows how deeply drug trafficking and human trafficking affect everyday life, especially the lives of women. At the same time, it is a coming-of-age story about girls who, even under extraordinary circumstances, have ordinary dreams and desires. The film was Mexico’s submission for the 2022 Academy Awards.
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