Miss Amerigua

Running time: N/A

The Hollywood pitch for Miss Amerigua might be Gabriel Garcia Marquez meets Che Guevara and Jerry Lewis. But this isn't Hollywood, it's the fictional town of Amerigua, Paraguay, where the local military despot (guilty of murdering rebellious campesinos) presides over the annual beauty contest. It's an affair slightly less flamboyant than the Miss America Pageant, but no less important to the more prominent citizens of Amerigua. Complicating the judging is the fact that the general's future daughter-in-law and his mistress are both contestants. Before the big event happens, however, a man from the general's past returns to claim an old love and to seek revenge. Director Luis Vera, a native of Chile and currently living in Sweden, has created a film that is at times mystical, humorous, romantic and tragic. Vera uses metaphor throughout to conjure his vision of political injustice and unfailing love. Miss Amerigua's "one day in the life" narrative evokes the magical realism of Garcia Marquez, as well as authors Isabelle Allende and Jose Amado. Vera also injects humor into Amerigua's citizens, especially the headphone-equipped newshound which reveals a Jerry Lewis-like zaniness that will make you smile. - Jeffrey Vargas