Mari Gaila (Silvia Pinal), is an adulteress who lives between ragged, thieves, prostitutes, dwarfs and other misshapen beings, in a rare box at a country and a vague time. Her husband, is a poor sacristan who agrees with other relatives to do business with the display of his orphaned nephew, a mentally retarded dwarf. Caught in committing adultery with her lover, Mari Gaila is caged naked and punished by the people.
Acting
Silvia Pinal's feral, trapped-animal performance is absolutely unhinged.
Direction
Ibáñez stages cruelty like religious tableau — grotesque and deliberate.
Production
That 'vague time' setting makes it feel like a poisoned folktale.
Director
Juan Ibáñez
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Valle-Inclán's 'esperpento' plays, which deliberately deform reality to expose social rot — think Spanish Brecht with more mud and mosquitoes.
Silvia Pinal was Mexico's biggest star; her willingness to do full nudity and be literally caged shocked audiences who expected glamour.
MX
