English summary

In an isolated Mayan community in Guatemala the 17-year-old Maria lives with her parents in a simple little house at the foot of a volcano. Her loving but overprotective parents want her to marry the foreman of the local coffee plantation. But Maria is in love with Pepe, who has set his heart on travelling to the other side of the volcano. There awaits the western world: Mexico, with beyond it the United States. But escaping the local Mayan culture proves to be no mean feat…
This beautifully filmed drama offers a fascinating insight into an unfamiliar world. On the surface Maria passively accepts the events of her life. But as the story unfolds we see through various forms of Maya symbolism that she is much stronger than her meekness would lead us to believe.
The position of Maya Indians in Guatemala is precarious to say the least. This film demonstrates in no uncertain terms the injustice they face. Amongst other awards, Ixcanul won the Grand Prix at the Gent Film Festival this year, as well as the Alfred Bauer Award at the Berlin Film Festival.