Rosita (2005)
Directors: Barbara Attie and Janet Goldwater. Screenplay: María López Vigil
Rosita was a 9-year-old Nicaraguan girl who liked drawing colorful pictures. One day, this young girl's life was drastically changed when, on the way to school, she was invited into her neighbor's house and was raped.
Barbara Attie and Janet Goldwater's powerful documentary Rosita captures the drama of the defiled child and of her shocked parents. While the Nicaraguan government, the Catholic church, and the media attempt to interfere in the lives of Rosita's family, others fight to ensure that the girl's parents will have the final say on whether their daughter should go through with the pregnancy. Initially, the family believes they have no choice — even though their daughter could die while giving birth — but they eventually learn that they can have a say in the eventual outcome.
Throughout the chain of events, we are reminded of the presence of the girl by a carefully worded script that phrases statements and questions the way a pregnant 9-year old would ask.
As part of London's Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, which runs from 21-30 March, Rosita will be screened on Tuesday, 27 March, at 18:30 and on Wednesday, 28 March, at 18:15, at the Ritzy cinema Brixton 08707 550062 www.picturehouses.co.uk. The filmmakers will be present at the screening.
© Rosemary Westwell
HOT HOUSE (2006) by Shimon Dotan: Film Review
CARLA'S LIST (2006) by Michael Schüpbach: Film Review
TOTAL DENIAL (2006) by Milena Kaneva: Film Review
More on London's Human Rights Watch festival
SUFFERING AND SMILING (2006) by Dan Ollman: Film Review
Anita Pallenberg's PERFORMANCE
Film Noir DVDs Commentary on Slate
Ann Sheridan Biographer Ray Hagen Discusses the 1940s Warner Bros. Star
Ann Sheridan: Warner Bros. Star of the 1940s
Saverio Costanzo Discusses IN MEMORIA DI ME
The Human Rights Film Festival is always an illuminating event. Rosita and her story is a case in point.