Maria Full of Grace (2004)

“Well then… We’re going to give you several rolls of film. We’ll send you to New York… Actually to New Jersey – a small town next to New York. Once you go through Customs you’ll be met by our people. They will take you to a safe place. We’ll develop the rolls. And in five, six days you’ll be back here with all your money taking care of your problems.” – Javier

Number of Times Seen – 1 (28 Aug 2019)

Brief Synopsis – A young pregnant Colombian woman in need of money volunteers to be a drug mule.

My Take on it – This is a film that I had never heard of before coming across it in my attempt to watch all films that have received Oscar nominations for acting.

They do a great job here showing how the drug trade works in their attempt to secretly transfer drugs to the US via human mules.

We get to see how they prey on the impoverished in an attempt to exploit them into doing their bidding for cash which is what they desperately are in need of.

They tell this story quite well and there is no question that Catalina Sandino Moreno stands out here.

I’m still amazed that this was her first acting role in film and that makes the fact that she got an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her powerful and gripping work here even more impressive.

The pacing of the story works really well and they don’t try and shy away from the dangers involved in such work.

The detail of how they get things done is told in intricate detail and it’s fascinating to watch how it’s done in such a realistic fashion.

Bottom Line – Really interesting depiction of how the drug trade works and how they exploit people who need quick money n exchange for something that is borderline dangerous. The story is told quite well and Moreno really stands out here. She desrevingly received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her performance here which despite only being her debut film role is so powerful and gripping. The story moves along at a great pace and is able to show us the intricate ways that the drug trade is able to successfully get their product into the US. Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – This is Catalina Sandino Moreno’s film debut. An anonymous admirer who had seen her in a play told her mother about the open casting call. (From IMDB)

Rating – Globe Worthy (8/10)