The Milk of Sorrow
(2009)
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The Milk of Sorrow
(2009)
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| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Magaly Solier | ... |
Fausta
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Susi Sánchez | ... |
Aída
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Efraín Solís | ... |
Noé
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Bárbara Lazón | ... |
Perpetua
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Delci Heredia | ... |
Carmela
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Karla Heredia | ... |
Severina
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Fernando Caycho | ... |
Melvin
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Miller Revilla Chengay | ... |
Melvincito
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Spencer Salazar | ... |
Jonathan
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Summy Lapa | ... |
Chicho
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María del Pilar Guerrero | ... |
Máxima
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Leandro Mostorino | ... |
Jhonny
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Anita Chaquiri | ... |
Abuela
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Edward Llungo | ... |
Marcos
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Daniel Núñez | ... |
Amadeo
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Fausta is suffering from a rare disease called the Milk of Sorrow, which is transmitted through the breast milk of pregnant women who were abused or raped during or soon after pregnancy. While living in constant fear and confusion due to this disease, she must face the sudden death of her mother. She chooses to take drastic measures to not follow in her mother's footsteps. Written by Pusan International Film Festival
La teta asustada (or Milk of Sorrow) tells the story of Fausta, a young woman who suffers from the indigenous sickness of being condemned to live in fear forever. Terrorists raped her mother while she was pregnant and imparted her fear to Fausta through her breast milk. The strange awkwardness of the story is uncomfortable at times, but the audience slowly adjusts. This is the famous magical realism that Latin America is known for: the mixing of reality and fantasy in such a way that the impossible starts to seem more and more normal and possible.
Having lived and studied in Lima for ten months, although it doesn't make me an expert, I found the film to be an accurate portrayal of life in the impoverished suburbs of the capital city. Mostly indigenous people fleeing from the mountains where terrorism was threatening them settled these dusty settlements on the outskirts of Lima in the 80s and 90s. In these communities indigenous traditions are still practiced and cherished to this day, but as portrayed in the movie there is also the clash of cultures as the people struggle to integrate into the life of the big city of Lima.
I enjoyed this movie because it reminded me of all things Peruvian: the scenery, the struggles, the mix of indigenous and modern cultures and the ever important role of the potato.