Rhythm of the Saints

Director: Sarah Rogacki
Screenwriters: Cyn Cañel Rossi

Institute History

  • 2003 Sundance Film Festival

Description

Rena Juarez (Daniella Alonso) is not like most 15-year-old girls. An extraordinary Latina beauty from New York's Washington Heights, Rena is constantly teased for kicking around in a sports jersey, baseball cap, and baggy pants. And when she meets up with trouble, she and her friends turn to the mystical practice of Santeria to cast spells on her perpetrators. But not everyone in her circle understands the patience and faith her spiritual practice requires, so when a violent domestic crisis gets out of hand and the power of the conjured saints mixes with the friends' youthful lust for revenge, things go awry.

A visually rich and sensuous film, Rhythm of the Saints lures us into a fascinating urban teenage world that is authentic, rare, and fresh. First-time director Sarah Rogacki gives us beautiful filmmaking that accomplishes a palpable sense of place and atmosphere, draws a career-best performance by Sarita Choudury, and debuts the talents of a new star in Daniella Alonso. Rhythm of the Saints is a luminous experience that continues to linger in deep places of the heart.

— Shari Frilot

Screening Details

As you use our Online Archives, please understand that the information presented from Festivals, Labs, and other activities is taken directly from official publications from each year. While this information is limited and doesn't necessarily represent the full list of participants (e.g. actors and crew), it is the list given to us by the main film/play/project contact at the time, based on the space restrictions of our publications. Each entry in the Online Archives is meant as a historical record of a particular film, play, or project at the time of its involvement with Sundance Institute. For this reason, we can only amend an entry if a name is misspelled, or if the entry does not correctly reflect the original publication. If you have questions or comments, please email [email protected]