Carajita
(Carajita)
Silvina Schnicer, Ulises Porra | Fiction, Drama
2021 | 89 minutes | Dominican Republic, Argentina
Sara and her nanny Yarisa have a relationship that transcends class and race: they are close to a daughter-mother; but an accident will test their intimate loyalty.
Synopsis
Featuring striking cinematography and outstanding performances, Carajita (which means annoying child) explores the tenuous relationship that exists between race, class, and family.
Sarah, the pampered daughter of a corrupt oligarch whose family recently relocated to Las Terrenas, thinks of her Black Dominican nanny, Yarisa, as “part of the family.” The two have a “mother-daughter-like” relationship that transcends their social standing. That illusion is put to the test when Yarisa’s spirited daughter Mallory goes missing, challenging Sarah’s naïve beliefs.
Boasting intuitive storytelling and confident direction, Carajita plays like a psychological thriller, deriving oppressive tension from unspoken inequalities and the impunity of privilege.
* Spanish language audio description is available via the ALL4ACCESS App and/or .wav file when purchasing a DSL license.
Accessibility for these films was created by DICAPTA and funded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education- Office of Special Education-OSEP, project “Enhanced Access to Video for Students with Sensory Disabilities through Emerging Technology,” TV Access H327C210001.
Reviews
"A gorgeous and compelling enigmatic drama. The agonies of the Caribbean’s colonial legacy are examined with aesthetic elegance and unsettling elusiveness in Carajita, a film that couldn’t be more timely in the Black Lives Matter era." - Jonathan Romney, Screen Daily
"A Latin ‘Parasite’. Carajita starts strong, unfolds at the speed of gunpowder, and ends with a tremendous final explosion. Taking the viewer’s breath away with its opening scene (literally), Argentine filmmaker Silvina Schnicer and Catalan Ulises Porra raise the bar of their brilliant mastery even higher." - Carlos Loureda, Fotogramas
"The overwhelming visual work seeks to restore dignity to the lower class through the epic, and its metaphors also highlight the injustices on which the privileges of the rich are built."- Jonay Armas, Caimán CDC
“The title of this powerful film refers to an annoying child or, in a less usual way, to adults who behave like children. Carajita joins its definition to a narration crossed by the economic, social and cultural asymmetries represented by the intramural relationship with the domestic service.” – Pablo De Vita, LA NACION
Citation
Main credits
Schnicer, Silvina (film director)
Schnicer, Silvina (screenwriter)
Porra, Ulises (film producer)
Porra, Ulises (screenwriter)
Guerrero, Alexandra (film producer)
Prida, Ulla (film producer)
Welie, Cecilia van (actor)
Núñez, Magnolia (actor)
Other credits
Cinematography, Iván Gierasinchuk; editing, Ulises Porra, Delfina Castagnino; music, Andrés Rodríguez.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Caribbean Studies
Central America
Criminal Justice
Economics + Social Class Issues
Family
Labor Studies
Race + Ethnicity
Women
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
San Sebastian International Film Festival; Zurich Film Festival; Mar del Plata International Film Festival; Miami Film Festival; Guadalajara International Film Festival; Tribeca Film Festival; Filmfestival Kitzbühel; Seoul International Women’s Film Festival; New York Latino Film Festival; AFI Latin American Film Festival; Belfast Film Festival; Havana Festival of New Latin American Cinema
DIRECTOR: Silvina Schnicer, Ulises Porra
NATIONALITY: Dominican Republic, Argentina
YEAR: 2021
GENRE: Fiction, Drama
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adult
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: AVAILABLE
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.
Related Films
Boca Chica
A World for Julius
Un mundo para Julius
Guie'dani's Navel
El Ombligo de Guie'dani (XQUIPI' GUIE'DANI)
Babygirl
La hembrita
Killa
Elena
Related Collections
Fiction Films
A compelling glimpse into Spain and Latin America's rich storytelling traditions, showcasing a blend of established directors and emerging voices. Each film highlights the depth and creativity of the region.
Number of titles: 275
SEE COLLECTION >Family Dysfunction Unleashed
Through poignant narratives and authentic characters, these movies navigate the intricate dynamics, exposing the raw emotions, conflicts, and unexpected bonds that shape the multifaceted landscapes of family dysfunction.
Number of titles: 28
SEE COLLECTION >Films with Audio Description
Inclusive titles with audio descriptions that captivate the senses beyond sight.
Number of titles: 22
SEE COLLECTION >Spanish Language Films
A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.
Number of titles: 440
SEE COLLECTION >Women's Voices
These films challenge dominant narratives and offer compelling feminine visions of the region's past, present, and future.
Number of titles: 216
SEE COLLECTION >The Pragda Complete Film Collection
The essence of Spain and Latin America captured in their original language with English captions or subtitles.
Number of titles: 637
SEE COLLECTION >Our Essential 100 Titles
A hand-picked selection of our must-have films showcasing the very best of Spanish, Latin American and Latinx cinema.
Number of titles: 100
SEE COLLECTION >Afro-Latin Narratives
Unveiling Afro-Latin America: their culture, challenges, and the profound contributions of their communities.
Number of titles: 74
SEE COLLECTION >Labor Lens: Work and Society
A cinematic exploration of the complexities, struggles, and triumphs of the working world, showcasing the diverse narratives and experiences that shape our understanding of labor and its context.
Number of titles: 238
SEE COLLECTION >Criminal Justice
A riveting selection of films that provoke conversations on topics such as wrongful convictions, systemic issues, life in prison, and the human stories behind crime and punishment.
Number of titles: 155
SEE COLLECTION >