The Holy Girl [Fiction]

Lucrecia Martel
Argentina, Italy, Netherlands, Spain | 2003 | 106 min
Language : Spanish
Subtitles : French, English

Amalia is feeling the first flutters of adolescence. Raised in a devoutly religious environment, her emerging desires wrestle with her faith. After a sexual assault, she assigns herself the dangerous mission of saving the guilty man from his impulses. The brilliantly directed La niña santa confronts family pressure and class violence, while echoing a sensory awakening.

Minimum legal age 14 years, recommended 16 years and over

Amalia is on the cusp of adolescence. She is feeling its first flutters, which cohabit more or less harmoniously with her faith and her love of God. During a street performance, a stranger, who is residing in the hotel managed by her mother, sexually assaults her in the crowd. Amalia then assigns herself the dangerous mission of saving the guilty man from his impulses, and in doing so, risks her own damnation. La niña santa, the second film in the Salta trilogy, is certainly the one that confronts the religious conservatism of the region in the most head-on manner. Here, Lucrecia Martel addresses the pressure imposed by religion on individuals, in a claustrophobic staging that is reminiscent at times of the horror genre. Not without biting dark humour, she challenges the Church’s moral lead weight as well as the family pressure and class violence exerted on the young Amalia. Amalia’s awakening echoes the sexual tension that is omnipresent in the hotel, the unsettling catalyst of desire and taboo. An intensely sensuous masterpiece of filmmaking, featuring rich sound work, La niña santa was shortlisted for the Cannes Palme d’or in 2014.

Bastien Bento

Camarera de piso, 2022
Terminal norte, 2021
Al, 2019
Julieta Laso: Fantasmas, 2018
Zama, 2017
El aula vacía, 2015
Muta, 2011
Pescados, 2010
Nueva argirópolis, 2010
25 miradas, 200 minutos, 2010
La mujer sin cabeza, 2008
La ciudad que huye, 2006
La niña santa, 2004
La ciénaga, 2001
Las dependencias, 1999
Historias breves, 1995
D.N.I., 1995
Magazine for Fai, 1995
Besos rojos, 1991
La otra, 1989
Piso 24, 1989
No te la llevarás maldito, 1989
El 56, 1988
Photography
Félix Monti
Sound
Guido BerenblumMarcos De AguirreRoberto EspinozaDavid MirandaVictor Alejandro Tendler
Editing
Santiago Ricci
Music
Andres Gerszenzon
Production
Alvaro UrtizbereaNora KohenAlfredo GhirardoLita Stantic
Sales contact
Lita Stanticinfo@litastantic.com.ar

Guest of Honour Lucrecia Martel

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