The Virgin of Juarez [DVD]

On the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez hundreds of young women have been brutally murdered without arrests. Investigating these murders, journalist Karina Danes (Minnie Driver) met Mariela (Ana Claudia Talancón), one of the few survivors of those depraved attacks who has an ethereal and charismatic personality. During her recovery, Mariela sees visions of the Virgin Mary and suffers stigma phenomena. She soon has a cult following seeking hope. When she goes to East LA , Mariela's transformation is complete. She becomes the Joan of Arc for the neo-Christians of Los Angeles. Karina followed this incredible story and found herself involved in it as she tried to understand how this attack could have transformed this young woman. In the end she too became involved as the group called for violence and tragedy. Based on the unsolved murders in Ciudad de Juarez, the film relates political issues, bigotry and religion to murders and violence in Mexico and East LA.