Maria Full of Grace Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)July 17th, 2004
"Maria Full of Grace"
17-year old Maria (Catalina Sandino Moreno) ekes out a painful living in her native Colombia stripping thorns off of roses for export to wealthier countries. It's a dead end for the young woman until she is presented with a golden opportunity to get out of her rut: become a drug mule. She just has to ingest pellets of pure heroin, fly to America and turn over the cargo. It sounds simple enough but her choice begins a most harrowing week for "Maria Full of Grace."
First time writer/director Joshua Marston has created a unique and original story on a subject that has not really seen the light of day. Sure, the subject of smuggling drugs has been with us for ages – think "Midnight Express," for example – but I can't remember a film that dealt with the drug smugglers' "mules," those poor unfortunate dupes who risk their lives and freedom for the few dollars their smuggling effort will bring.
Maria is an intelligent teenager who is frustrated with her going nowhere life. She busses the long distance to the flower "factory" every day, constantly bandaging her fingers from the cuts made when she strips thorns off of roses. Her foreman is an uncaring martinet concerned only with filling his quotas and not the about the workers. Her family, with no man in the household, struggles to make ends meet, especially with her sister and sickly baby to be cared for. Maria is also being pressured by her boyfriend, whom she doesn't love, to marry. And, she is pregnant.
All of these demands take their toll on the young woman and, one day, she ups and quits her job. The hue and cry from her mother, grandmother and sister force Maria to find work – any work. When handsome, friendly Franklin (John Alex Toro) suggests that she become a mule – assuring her that only those wishing to be "famous" get caught smuggling – she agrees. This decision propels Maria into an alien world where she learns that she will have to swallow "pellets" of pure heroine - over 60 at 10 grams apiece (over a pound) – board a plane, fly to New York and deliver her illicit cargo. One experienced mule, Lucy (Guilied Lopez), mentors Maria in the process and the young women heads to New York with a belly full of dope.
This begins a journey, both physical and emotional, for Maria that involves an arduous plane ride, suspicious US Customs officials and a pair of very unsavory drug dealers. Maria's experience in the big city, especially after having her baby checked with a sonogram, will bring enormous change to the young woman and her future.
Joshua Marston shows a deft hand, both with his writing and his behind the camera control, that belies his first-timer status. Of course, it helps that his star, Catalina Sandino Moreno, has palpable charismatic appeal and does a fine job portraying Maria's rebelliousness, cool head, vulnerability, kindness and compassion. Hers is a three-dimensional character and Moreno's performance is a calling card debut. Supporting cast, especially Lopez, does a good job filling in the background.
"Maria Full of Grace" is a disturbing movie that puts you right up there with the title character as she tries to brave her way through a dangerous, even deadly, mission that could set her for life. Or, kill her. The ability of young newcomer Moreno, combined with the new talents of Marstow, make this a film worth watching. At the very least, it made me give up my career ambitions to become a Colombian drug mule. I give it a B+.
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