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Alegría

First film of the 2025 UWL Spanish Film Festival

Join us at the Student Union Theater for the first film of the Spanish Film Festival. Prof. Victoria Calmes will be presenting this film with discussion to follow.

From Pragda:

Why you must see this film. Because it conveys the crucial message that the world needs: a story of reconciliation told by a Jewish woman, a Muslim, and a Christian living in Morocco. And because it is shaped entirely by women – from the director and screenwriters to the producer. A layered, heartfelt family drama about women breaking free from patriarchal tradition in a contemporary Jewish diasporic community.

Alegría’s life takes a profound shift upon discovering that her orthodox Jewish brother insists on holding his daughter’s wedding in Melilla. Guided by Dunia, her Arab housekeeper, and Marian, her Christian confidante, Alegría embarks on a journey to connect with her roots while assisting her niece, Yael, in navigating womanhood within a highly conservative male-dominated environment.

Renowned Mexican actress Cecilia Suárez (The House of Flowers, 3 Caminos) takes the lead, infusing the film with her charisma and impeccable comedic timing, amidst a backdrop of familial tumult and conflicting traditions. The film sensitively depicts her coming to terms with her roots and the cultural past she has rejected. She may not want these traditions for herself, but she comes to understand the value they have in her community.

Alegría is also about Melilla, an autonomous, multicultural Spanish city on Africa’s north coast, where Jews, Muslims, and Christians mix and mingle and come together to make the wedding happen. It is a gorgeous evocation of a fascinating and beautiful corner of the world not often seen on-screen.

Shaped entirely by women – from the director and screenwriters to the producer, director Violeta Salama follows in the footsteps of esteemed directors like Nadine Labaki in Lebanon (notably with Caramel), Mira Nadir in India, and Leila Marraki in Morocco.

When

Past occurrences (1)

  • 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 14

Where

Student Union Theatre, 120 Student Union

UWL campus map for building location and nearby parking lots.

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Student Union

Contact

For questions about this event or to request disability accommodations , contact Dane DeVetter at 608.785.8325 or ddevetter@uwlax.edu.

Parking

Payment may be required. No permit?
Use Passport Parking.

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