Maria Full of Grace (2004, Spanish title: MarÃa Llena Eres de Gracia, lit. "Mary, full you are of grace") is a joint Colombian-American film, written and directed by Joshua Marston. The title is a reference to the Hail Mary and a reference to what Maria carries in her into the United States. The main actress, Catalina Sandino Moreno, was nominated for "Best Actress" in the 77th Academy Awards. MarÃa Ãlvarez, an 17-year-old Colombian girl (played by Catalina Sandino Moreno) works in sweat shop-like conditions to help support her family. Suddenly, she finds herself pregnant by her boyfriend, whom she does not love. Her boss not being very tolerant of her morning sickness, she quits her job; this does not please her family. She also confronts her boyfriend, which does not go well. Desperate, she accepts a risky offer to move some drugs from Colombia to the United States. MarÃa is exposed into the ruthless world of international drug trafficking. Her mission becomes one of determination and survival and she finally emerges with the grace that will carry her forward into a new life. At the end of the film, as Maria walks and the camera fades to black, an advertisement in the background reads, "It's what's on the inside that counts." |
