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Guatemala’s first-ever entry for the foreign language Oscar is an absorbing, beautifully-shot drama of cultural ritual and the drive of one young woman to escape a rudimentary social system.

Set in a small coffee plantation village under the shadow of a giant volcano (the Ixcanul of the title), we follow Maria (Maria Mercedes Coroy), a quiet, introvert teenager who nonetheless dreams of shaping her own destiny.

Maria is set to marry a much older foreman at the coffee plantation, but she has a crush on Pepe, who has fanciful dreams of getting rich in the U.S. After consummating their flirtation, Pepe leaves for the States — without Maria, who soon learns she is expecting a baby. A difficult pregnancy assisted only by traditional medicine finally leads her to the hectic big city, but on very grim terms.

Director: Jayro Bustamante
Cast: Maria Mercedes Coroy, Maria Telon, Manuel Antun
Country: Guatemala, France
Genre: Drama

DVD9 | PAL 16:9 | 01:27:35 | 6.08 Gb + 3% rec
Language: Kaqchikel
Subtitles: English, Deutsch, Francais, Italiano

Extras:
-- Interview with Jayro Bustamante
-- Trailer

BD50 | 1080p AVC | 01:31:39 | 32.3 Gb + 3% rec
Language: Kaqchikel
Subtitles: English, Espanol

Extras:
-- "Making Of" featurette (11:17)
-- Theatrical Trailer