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"The desert grows, and woe to him who conceals the desert within him..." - Friedrich Nietzsche
Hot off the success of last year's award-winning La Zona, Rodrigo Plá doesn't put one step wrong in leading Mexico's cinematic resurgence with this epic drama, The Desert Within.
Battling an earthly and spiritual conundrum, Elias unwittingly draws the attention of rebel troops to his peaceful village while attempting to baptise his son at the nearby township. A vision from the Lord convinces Elias that he must atone for his sin against his neighbours, so he re-locates his family to the desert, where he undertakes the building of a church. While acting from a purity of heart, not everyone shares Elias's clear-sightedness on the situation, and soon his ardent devotion begins to resemble madness.
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D Rodrigo Plá P Germán Méndez, Rodrigo Plá S Laura Santullo, Rodrigo Plá WS Filmsharks International L Spanish w/English subtitles TD 35mm/2008/112mins