The Milk of Sorrow (2009)
"La teta asustada" (original title)

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. ... See full summary »

Director:

Claudia Llosa

Writer:

Claudia Llosa

Stars:

Magaly Solier, Susi Sánchez, Efraín Solís

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 15 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Magaly Solier	...	Fausta
Susi Sánchez	...	Aída
Efraín Solís	...	Noé
Bárbara Lazón	...	Perpetua
Delci Heredia	...	Carmela
Karla Heredia	...	Severina
Fernando Caycho	...	Melvin
Miller Revilla Chengay	...	Melvincito
Spencer Salazar	...	Jonathan
Summy Lapa	...	Chicho
María del Pilar Guerrero	...	Máxima
Leandro Mostorino	...	Jhonny
Anita Chaquiri	...	Abuela
Edward Llungo	...	Marcos
Daniel Núñez	...	Amadeo

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

milk | death | fear | suffering | pregnancy | 

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Taglines:

A journey from fear to freedom.

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

Spain Peru

Language:

Spanish Quechua

Release Date:

13 February 2009 (Spain)

Also Known As:

A Teta Assustada

Filming Locations:

Lima, Peru

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$1,914 (USA) (27 August 2010)

Gross:

$10,376 (USA) (24 September 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Generalitat de Catalunya - Institut Català de les Indústries Culturals (ICIC), Ministerio de Cultura, Oberón Cinematográfica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peru's official submission to 82nd Academy Award's Foreign Language in 2010.

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Connections

Featured in Brief Film Reviews: The Milk of Sorrow (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Sirena"
Music by Selma Mutal
Lyrics by Claudia Llosa
Performed by Magaly Solier

User Reviews

magical realism at its finest

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.