Join us for the screening of Eva Aridjis’ documentary La Santa Muerte, her investigation of the growing Mexican cult of ‘Saint Death’, a female grim reaper worshipped by those with traumatic lives.
Eva Aridjis, ‘Saint Death’. Courtesy of the artist.
[ID: A young Mexican man with long hair and tattoos looks directly at the camera. He holds a large statue of a skeleton robed in saintly clothes, carying dollar bills and a scythe.]
Doors: 7pm
Free entry
The screening will be followed by a conversation with Eva Aridjis.
On the uncanny threshold between Halloween and the Day of the Dead, Mexican film-maker Eva Aridjis makes a rare UK visit to introduce and be in conversation about her 2007 documentary La Santa Muerte, her investigation of the growing Mexican cult of ‘Saint Death’, a female grim reaper worshipped by those with traumatic lives.
Considered a saint by followers but satanic by the Catholic Church, she is worshipped by people whose lives are filled with danger and / or violence- criminals, gang members, transsexuals, sick people, drug addicts and families living in rough neighborhoods.
La Santa Muerte takes us on a tour of the altars, jails and neighborhoods in Mexico where the saint’s most devoted followers can be found.
Eva Aridjis was born in 1974 and grew up in Mexico City. She has made a number of acclaimed and award-winning short and feature films. Her Mexico-focused works include three distinctive documentary essay films on lives that are disenfranchised, marginalised or discriminated against: Santa Muerte; Chuy, the Wolf Man and Children of the Street.