AFI Latin American Film Festival 2009

Three recyclers undertake a quest towards the mystical "Door of Forgiveness" in artist Miguel Alvear's debut feature, a phantasmagoric exploration of South American folklore. Centered around Ecuador's annual "Mama Negra" festival—an eclectic mixture of Catholic, African, and indigenous traditions—the film blends dance, costumes, and performance art to explore the transformations that take place when cultures collide. Stunning, surreal, and sly, BLAK MAMA is an audacious headtrip through the carnavalesque.