Alias Maria

Women give birth in all kinds of situations, with war as no exception. We meet the teenage girl María, a guerrilla soldier in the deepest woods of Colombia – and secretly pregnant. When a little boy is born in their group – which is very unusual as pregnant soldiers face forced abortion – María gets responsible for bringing him into safety. The 13-year-old girl develops a strong bond to the newborn, which makes her reflect over the life that is growing inside of her own body. This reflection leads her into a revolt against her group's leaders and practices.

The war in Colombia has so far resulted in more than 220 000 deaths, and millions have been displaced. Through María’s eyes, the war seems pointless and eternal. You’ll most likely react strongly to the baby‘s whimpers, and the sounds of the jungle give a thorough feeling of unsafeness. The film’s title refers to the vast number of young women who are, in real life, trapped in the same situation as María. The film screened at this year’s Cannes festival.

José Luis Rugeles started his work with the Alias María project in 2010, when his former colleague and scriptwriter Diego Vivanco showed him his new draft of the story. They spent 3 years doing research, and casted children that have personal experiences from very violent areas of Colombia. Rugeles has previously directed the comedy García (2010) and the TV series El Laberinto (2012-), in addition to the short El dragón de Comodo (2007).