La Monjita: A quiet, dusty relic worth a look

Is it worth the time?

If you’re the type of person who gets a kick out of watching 1920s cinema with all its scratches and weird, stilted pacing, then yes—watch it. But if you need a plot that moves faster than a slow crawl or sound that doesn't hiss like a radiator, you’re probably going to be bored to tears. It’s a niche pick, definitely not for a Friday night popcorn crowd.

There is something about the way Jose Padilla Jr. carries himself in this that feels strangely modern. Most actors from this era are busy over-acting with their hands, but he just sits there looking like he’s actually thinking about something else entirely.

The pacing is… well, it’s glacial. There’s a scene near the middle where a character just stares out a window for what feels like three weeks. It’s either incredibly profound or a complete editing failure. I haven't decided which.

The Vibe

The whole movie has this dusty, sepia-toned heaviness. It reminds me a bit of the atmosphere in The Hound of the Baskervilles, where the background feels more like a character than the actual people. You can almost smell the old film stock.

• The lighting is often hit or miss. Sometimes it’s beautiful, sometimes it’s just a flat wall of grey.
• Rosa Rivera does a lot with her eyes. She doesn't have many lines, but she doesn't need them.
• The ending is abrupt. It’s like the film just decided it had said enough and walked out the door.

I found myself thinking about Ethel fue una mujer ingenua while watching this. Both films share that same obsession with women trapped by their circumstances. Except here, the trap is made of stone walls and rosary beads instead of social expectations.

Don't expect a masterpiece. It’s an uneven, sometimes frustrating little project that feels like it was put together with a lot of love and not nearly enough budget. But it has a soul. That’s more than I can say for most of the polished garbage coming out of studios today. 🎥

The framing in the chapel scenes is honestly the best part. Someone clearly spent a lot of time getting those shadows just right. It’s a shame the rest of the film doesn't always show that level of care.

Anyway, keep your expectations low and your coffee strong. You’ll be fine.