This film is unusual in that it is Cuban, and deals totally with religious beliefs, in this case, "espiritismo," a blend of fortune-telling mixed with Catholic and Afro-Cuban religions. The film features a stellar performance by veteran actress Daisy Granados (MEMORIES OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT, PORTRAIT OF TERESA, CECILIA) as the older adult AMANDA. She recently won the 2000 Best Actress Prize at Latin America's prestigious Gramado Film Festival in Brazil for her performance in this film. The director presents AMANDA'S PROPHECIES in a series of vignettes, which lets us in on Amanda's powers and her grueling life from early childhood to her late adult years. It is a fascinating view at important, ubiquitous customs in Cuban culture, which had previously been avoided by the government-funded and supervised ICAIC, the producer of this and all Cuban films since 1961. Since this movie, like all recent Cuban features, are co-productions with European and other entities, it will probably be playing near you soon. It's a worthwhile experience.
Review of Las profecías de Amanda
Las profecías de Amanda
(1999)
Entertaining film featuring usually unmentionable Cuban popular beliefs
29 November 2000