Okay, we need to get one thing clear from the very beginning here. Rita isn't a traditional horror form. In fact, I would agree with people who wouldn't consider it a horror film at all, despite the fact that the real event it is based on, and what is shown here in the finale, is quite horrific. This is the kind of film that I actually appreciate seeing hosted by Shudder, despite the fact that the comments from viewers inevitably include a whole lot of dismissals from those who wanted a straightforward horror movie.
I admit, however, that I was worried when this started. It focuses on young Rita (Giuliana Santa Cruz), of course, and begins by showing her being placed in a facility alongside many other children. The children all seem to pretend they are in different factions, imagining themselves as fairies or other fantastical creatures, and the early scenes of magical realism had me very worried that I would end up watching something far too pre-occupied with showcasing the theatricality of child performers being encouraged to dress up and improvise amongst themselves. There was no need to worry though. Writer-director Jayro Bustamante (who impressed me with his previous feature, La Llorona) makes use of the childish playfulness and innocence to simply soften the edges of subject matter that might otherwise have been too bleak for many to watch.
I encourage everyone to watch Rita, first and foremost, but I then encourage everyone to type "rita guatemalan tragedy" into any decent search engine. Finding out what the film was based on, and why it needed to be made, adds another layer of appreciation, and it underlines just how well Bustamante has balanced everything. This works as a movie, as long as (once more for those at the back) you're NOT expecting any straightforward horror genre moments, but it works equally as a testament and condemnation of a major stain on the recent history of Guatemala.
While the entire cast do very good work, Santa Cruz is the focus, and she does a fantastic job. She is both vulnerable, as any child is, and yet ever-ready to fight for the safety of others. Ángela Quevedo and Alejandra Vásquez are two other children in the facility, both already trying to plan ways to fight back against a system that has put them in a very dangerous situation, and they easily hold their own alongside the young lead. The few adults throughout the movie aren't shown in a good light, but they're also portrayed by very capable actors who grit their teeth and commit to showing the horrible truth at the heart of the whole movie.
I can't say that I noticed every individual element here, which means I won't be praising the score or the editing or anything else that may deserve some extra praise. I was drawn in, almost as if taken by the hand, by the characters and the feeling of innocent playtime providing a way to process some great pain and unpleasantness. The end result is a gently-crafted piece of filmic heartbreak.
8/10
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