The Crow’s Nest
(Malacrianza)
Arturo Menéndez | Comedy, Drama, Fiction
2014 | 70 minutes | El Salvador
With a magnificent use of deadpan humor and charm, The Crow’s Nest depicts a unique and realistic vision of El Salvador, where evangelical churches, reverence for the concept of the American Dream, the local struggling economy, and violence are everyday experiences for its most vulnerable population.
Synopsis
The first fiction film from El Salvador to be produced since 1969 and the first ever to see a worldwide release, The Crow’s Nest follows Don Cleo, a humble piñata salesman who receives an extortion letter at his doorstep. If he doesn’t pay $500, a small fortune for him, within 72 hours, he will be killed. Don Cleo quickly decides to gather the money through friends, but the harder he tries to raise the funds, the deeper into trouble he gets. If Don Cleo hopes to survive, he’ll have to face his fears and stand up to his tormentors.
With a magnificent use of deadpan humor and charm, The Crow’s Nest depicts a unique and realistic vision of El Salvador, where evangelical churches, reverence for the concept of the American Dream, the local struggling economy, and violence are everyday experiences for its most vulnerable population.
Shot on location in neighborhoods controlled by gangs, the script was based on a collection of real stories.
Reviews
"The Crow's Nest is emerging as a great discovery (from IFF Panama), and proofs that talent can come from anywhere in Central America - though is still a huge challenge to make movies in El Salvador." — Variety
"Menéndez's film showcases one of the most serious problems not only in El Salvador, but in Honduras, Guatemala and México, although the director insists that the film goes beyond a denunciation of violence in his country...[it is] a wakeup call to Central American reality." — Alberto Nájar, BBC World
"The Crow's Nest proudly puts El Salvador in the cinematic map." — Josh Gardner, American Film Institute
"The Crow's Nest builds a deep dialogue about the meaning of ''hope '' in a region where we have been led to believe that the word is out of dictionaries." — Christian Sida Valenzuela, Vancouver Latin American Film Festival
"A milestone in the history of Salvadorean cinema." — Columba Vertiz, Revista Proceso
"Great visual intensity..." — Héctor Silva Ávalos, Revista Factum
Citation
Main credits
Menéndez, Arturo (film director)
Menéndez, Arturo (screenwriter)
Menéndez, Arturo (film producer)
Garcia, Alex (film producer)
Solís, Salvador (actor)
Valencia, Karla (actor)
Calderón, Rodrigo (actor)
Other credits
Cinematography, Francisco Moreno; editors, Federico Krill, Emilio Santoyo, David Torres; music, Amado López.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Central America
Criminal Justice
Economics + Social Class Issues
Family
Health + Aging
Sociology
Urban Studies
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
AFI Latin American Film Festival
Havana Film Festival
Chicago Latino Film Festival
Panama International Film Festival
Vancouver Latin Film Festival
International Film Festival Innsbruck
DIRECTOR: Arturo Menéndez
NATIONALITY: El Salvador
YEAR: 2014
GENRE: Comedy, Drama, Fiction
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adults
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.
Related Films
The Return
El regreso
Marimbas From Hell
Las marimbas del infierno
Meow
Miau
Chinese Take-Away
Un cuento chino
60 Years Old
60 años
That Was Life
La vida era eso
Red Shoes
Zapatos rojos
Chronicle of the End of the World
Crónica del fin del mundo
The Apizaco Shaman
El brujo de Apizaco
Low Season
En temporada baja
Father’s Chair
A busca
My Amazing Funeral
El día que me muera
Cows Wearing Glasses
Las vacas con gafas
Open Cage
Los bañistas
Nona, If They Soak Me I'll Burn Them
Nona, si me mojan yo los quemo
Related Collections
Fiction Films
A compelling glimpse into Spain and Latin America's rich storytelling traditions, showcasing a blend of established directors and emerging voices. Each film highlights the depth and creativity of the region.
Number of titles: 266
SEE COLLECTION >Spanish Language Films
A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.
Number of titles: 440
SEE COLLECTION >Criminal Justice
A riveting selection of films that provoke conversations on topics such as wrongful convictions, systemic issues, life in prison, and the human stories behind crime and punishment.
Number of titles: 128
SEE COLLECTION >High School Collection
Given varying criteria for content ratings and age restrictions in different regions, Pragda STREAM recommends faculty watch films in their entirety before assigning them to students.
Number of titles: 509
SEE COLLECTION >The Pragda Complete Film Collection
The essence of Spain and Latin America captured in their original language with English captions or subtitles.
Number of titles: 621
SEE COLLECTION >