‘La Llorona’ Cinematographer and Costume Designer on Heightening the Horror of Jayro Bustamante’s Film
Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorHorror was the perfect genre for filmmaker Jayro Bustamante and his crew to tell the story of Guatemala’s history of genocide and violence against women in “La Llorona,” shortlisted for an Oscar in the international film category.Cinematographer Nicolás Wong Díaz and costume designer Sofía Lantán helped Bustamante use a Latino folkloric “wailing woman” tale in service to a socio-political theme about the ghosts haunting Gen. Enrique (Julio Diaz), who is on trial for war crimes against Indigenous people.Acquitted on a technicality, Enrique returns home from court and that night hears a disembodied cry coming from somewhere in the house.