Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) is presenting its Cine Nepantla program with the streaming of the Costa Rican film, “Ceniza Negra.” “Ceniza Negra” is a heartwarming coming-of-age story, written and directed by Sofia Quiros Ubeda and starring an all Afro-Latino cast, with breakthrough performances by Smashleen Gutierrez, Humberto Samuels and Hortensia Smith. This film is part of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.
The film follows 13-year-old Selva, who lives in a coastal town in the Caribbean. After the sudden disappearance of her only motherly figure, she is left to take care of her grandfather, who does not want to live. Between shadows and wild games, she must decide if she will help her grandfather die, even though that means going through her last moments of childhood alone. Selva discovers that when we die, we just shed our skin. We can turn into wolves, goats, shadows or anything as long as your imagination allows it.
“Ceniza Negra” premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and led the way for female-directed Costa Rican films.
“Ceniza Negra” will be available for streaming Sept. 22-26 at www.laclastream.com. The streaming includes an interview with the director.
Cine Nepantla is curated by Guido Segal, a screenwriter and LACLA program manager. Segal is world-known for his film critiques, screenwriting and teaching.
For 25 years, nonprofit LACLA has been championing and screening feature and short films by LatinX filmmakers from all over the Americas.