Exiled
(Exiliada)
Leonor Zúniga | Documentary
2019 | 24 minutes | Costa Rica, United States, Nicaragua
The story of Zoilamérica Ortega Murillo, who accused her adoptive father, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, of sexual abuse.
Synopsis
The harrowing story of Zoilamérica Ortega Murillo, the adoptive daughter of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. In 1998, Zoilamérica accused Ortega of sexually abusing her as a child—a claim that shook Nicaragua but was silenced by political immunity and familial betrayal. Now in Costa Rica with her young son, Zoilamérica continues to grapple with the fallout of her accusations.
Blending archival footage from 1998 and intimate scenes from her life in exile in 2016, the film explores Zoilamérica’s isolation as both punishment for seeking justice and a reflection of the broader culture of impunity in Nicaragua.
Directed by Leonor Zúniga, Exiliada also examines the devastating impact on her family, including Zoilamérica’s mother, Rosario Murillo, who publicly supported Ortega and now serves as Nicaragua’s First Lady. This poignant documentary sheds light on the intersection of abuse, power, and resistance, offering a powerful testament to one woman’s enduring fight for dignity and justice.
Reviews
“The film offers an intimate and emotional perspective of the forced exile of a woman who denounced one of the most powerful men in his country” – Casa América Catalunya
Citation
Coming soon.
Cataloging
A MARC record for this title is not available yet.
Pragda subjects
Central America
Criminal Justice
Exile
Fascism + Repression
Gender + Sexuality Studies
Human Rights
Latin American Studies
Political Science
Short Films
Women
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Hot Docs; Curta Cinema Film Festival; St Louis International Film Festival; Tall Grass Film Festival; Humans Fest; Latin American Film Festival of Toronto
DIRECTOR: Leonor Zúniga
NATIONALITY: Costa Rica, United States, Nicaragua
YEAR: 2019
GENRE: Documentary
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School, College, Adult
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
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