Magdalena Viraga: Story Of A Red Sea Crossing

Directed by Nina Menkes. With Tinka Menkes, Claire Aguilar.
Much acclaimed, Los Angeles director Nina Menkes’ award winning feature debut is the harsh but beautiful portrayal of a prostitute accused of murdering her client. Shot on location in the dim reddish light of seedy hotels, bars, public baths and discos, Magdalena Viraga illustrates Ida’s – played brilliantly by the film-maker’s sister Tinka – dilemma drawing on poetry and prose of Anne Sexton, Gertrude Stein and Mary Daly. Featured in the recent Whitney Biennial and winner of numerous awards including the LA Film Critics Award for best independent film, Magdalena Viraga has been called “controversial intense and visually stunning” (Sight and sound), “boldly imaginative” (LA Times) and a “monument”, a gold mine in feminist history.” – Paris Femeniste.