DramaRomance

Maria Candelaria

A young journalist asks an old artist about the portrait of a naked Indian woman that he has in his study. The artist tells the story of Maria Candelaria, a young Indian woman who was rejected by her own people for being the daughter of a prostitute. She is protected by a young Indian man, Lorenzo Rafael, who has fallen in love with her.

Release Date : 1944-01-20

Language :Spanish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Films Mundiales

Production Country : Mexico

Alternative Titles : Portrait of Maria

Cast

Character Name : María Candelaria

Original Name : Dolores del Río

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lorenzo Rafael

Original Name : Pedro Armendáriz

Gender : Male

Character Name : El Pintor

Original Name : Alberto Galán

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lupe

Original Name : Margarita Cortés

Gender : Female

Character Name : Don Damian

Original Name : Miguel Inclán

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Beatriz Ramos

Gender : Female

Character Name : Priest

Original Name : Rafael Icardo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jose Alfonso

Original Name : Julio Ahuet

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bone-doctor (as Guadalupe del Castillo)

Original Name : Lupe del Castillo

Gender : Female

Character Name : Gossip

Original Name : Lupe Inclán

Gender : Female

Character Name : Judge

Original Name : Salvador Quiroz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Model

Original Name : Nieves

Gender : Male

Character Name : Model

Original Name : Elda Loza

Gender : Female

Character Name : Model

Original Name : Lupe Garnica

Gender : Female

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Alfonso Jiménez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sirvienta del pintor (uncredited)

Original Name : Aurora Ruiz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Arturo Soto Rangel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bit Part (uncredited)

Original Name : Irma Torres

Gender : Female

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : José Torvay

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge's Secratary (uncredited)

Original Name : David Valle González

Gender : Male

Character Name : Medic (uncredited)

Original Name : Enrique Zambrano

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-03-09

Talk about the sins of the father... well this time it's the sins of the mother that have earned the eponymous girl (Dolores del Rio) the enmity of her devout and rather hypocritical neighbours. Her troubles have only been exacerbated by her relationship with the dashing "Lorenzo Rafael" (Pedro Armendáriz) which is causing some jealousy too - especially from the vocal and quite obnoxious "Lupe" (Margarita Cortés). As a result of her shunning, "Maria" finds that she owes local grandee "Don Damian" (Miguel Inclán) the enormous sum of 15 pesos (almost a third has been spent on soap!!) and unless she settles then he is going to take her newborn sow as payment. They are now in a catch 22. The villagers will not let them sell their flowers or vegetables, so how to raise the cash? They travel to a distant market in the hope of doing just that, but when she is approached by a wealthy painter (Alberto Galán) they both take flight - and are no better off! Their waterside home is also the home to some mosquitoes and when she falls ill, decisions with far reaching effects have to be made by "Lorenzo" that rather plays into the hands of her enemies and leaves them both vulnerable to the worst of scenarios with only the local priest (Rafael Icardo) and the painter in their corner. Now the elephant in the room is that del Rio was forty years old here, and so convincing us that she is the innocent young girl does require a bit of cinematic licence. That said, she does offer us a delicately constructed characterisation of a young woman, very much in love, who just wants to be content. The photography and the peaceful settings of their adobe hut work well as a contrast to the unpleasantness they both face from a community that, despite it's religiosity, is bitter and unforgiving. The score also contributes well as we head towards our biblical denouement. Director Emilio Fernández has crafted a gentle story here that takes quite a swipe at small town mentality and double-standards, and jealousy and at hopelessness, but it's never a depressing film - there is honour here amongst some of the characters. It does take just a little too long to get going, but once we get going it's worth a watch.