Credited cast: | |||
Andrea Henry | ... | Claudia | |
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Vanessa Hernández | ... | María |
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Mauricio González | ... | Víctor |
Claudia and Maria, roam the streets of the city of Guatemala. Claudia works at a call center and is uninterested in the world around her. She lives with her activist grandfather, who tries to persuade her to join his cause. Maria unlike Claudia, is more spontaneous and lives with her mother in the outskirts of the city. The chaotic streets are filled with common stories of abuse, unforgiving police officers, and charming secret corners. Everything changes one night when they are attacked by three men. Although they manage to escape, Claudia is faced with the dilemma of choosing revenge or listening to her grandfather's advice.
Pólvora en el Corazón, or Gunpowder Heart, is an impressive debut feature from writer, director Camila Urrutia. The story of two women's struggle for vengeance and dignity, as well as their dreams of finding joy and freedom, is both relatable and captivating. There is also more to the story that might be missed without some historical knowledge about Guatemala and Latina America. There is a subtle complexity to the characters' story that you'll pick up on if you're savvy. I wish this deeper political context was a bit more fleshed out in the story. It left me wanting more. Can't wait to see more from this director.