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La Yuma

Florence Jaugey
Nicaragua, Spain, Mexico, France / 2011 / 91 min / Spanish with English subtitles

Nicaragua’s first full-length feature in 20 years, La Yuma tells the story of a young woman who dreams of transcending her bleak life in the slums of Managua by becoming a boxer. Looking beyond the meager possibilities that seem available to her (and ignoring the advice of her gang-member friends), she finds solace and hope in her training and falls in love with a middle-class journalism student. In Jaugey’s words, “the strength, the astuteness and determination of the main character, reflect the feelings of a population that faces up adversity and inequality.” With an extraordinary performance by Alma Blanco as Yuma, Jaugey’s film allows us the rare opportunity to get a glimpse of everyday life in this Central American country. Pre-selection for the Oscars® Academy Awards 2011 for Best Foreign Film.

La Yuma is one of the many films included in the catalogue of Spanish Film Club.

From 1979 to 1989 Florence Jaugey worked as an actress in France where she acted in more than ten roles in television and film. In 1984 she starred in the movie The President by Cuban director Manuel Octavio Gómez, filmed in Nicaragua. In 1990, along with the Frank Pineda, she founded Camila Films, based in Nicaragua. In 1993, she moved to Mexico, where she teaches at the National Film School (CCC) and in the school of theater Ludwig Margules. In 1995 she returned to Nicaragua to work in the production and casting of Ken Loach's film Carla's Song. In 1998 she won the Silver Bear at the 48th Berlin International Film Festival with her short film Cinema Alcázar and in 2001 she was awarded the prize of the Society of Authors in the International Documentary Festival "Cinema du Reel" at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, France.

Pre-selected to 2011Oscars® Academy Awards 
- Best Foreign Film

South American Film Encounters Marseille 
- Best Actress

San Francisco Film Festival
- Audience Award

Austria Latino Film Festival 
- Audience Award

Museum of Modern Art, New York

Quotes

“Blanco's exceptional lead performance” – MIAMI NEW TIMES

“The actress Alma Blanco, in particular, is perfect “ – Eric Libiot, L'EXPRESS

“Blanco's passionate portrayal of Yuma make this somewhat familiar "female Rocky" fresh and appealing.” – MoMA

“She often evokes Fellini’s early-sixties neorealist work, Nights of Cabiria in particular.” – Rubén Rosario, SUN POST WEEKL