Past October was the debut of the film: Del amor y otros demonios - directed by Hilda Hidalgo – during the International Film Festival held in Pusan, South Korea; this festival is considered the most important film showcase in the Asian Continent, focusing on presenting new movie stars and outstanding prima operas. This motion picture is based on Gabriel García Márquez’ book bearing the same title. The author was the Nobel Prizewinner in Literature (1982). In the production of this film five people from Costa Rica, three Argentineans, one Cuban, three Spaniards and a Mexican citizen participated as actors and actresses, the rest of the team was formed by Colombian talent.

“We had three full-theater projections followed by rounds of applauses and very emotive comments. At the end of the film, movie star Pablo Derqui and I opened Q&A sessions with the audience, some of which lasted more than 40 minutes. We were surprised to see that the attendants had copies of the novel (translated to English or Korean) with them in the theater… They praised the production and beauties of the images, music and sound work. The last day, for instance, two youngsters recognized Pablo Derqui (the protagonist) in the fish market and they submitted their copies of the novel for us to autograph them; they had purchased the books that same day after watching the film,” said director Hilda Hidalgo after traveling to Pusan. “We are very happy on account of the acceptance of our film by the Asian market. International cables transmitted out of Korea, highlighted the worldwide debut of “Del amor y otros demonios” as one of the main courses at the festival among 300 other titles,” added Ana Piñeres, production director of the film and executive producer of CMO Producciones.

Del amor y otros demonios was produced by CMO Producciones (Soñar no cuesta nada, Esto huele mal, Como el gato y el ratón, Bolívar soy yo) and the Costa Rican Aliciafilms. The film debut in Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico is scheduled for March 2010, to then be presented in other countries worldwide. The production lasted 10 weeks (7 in Cartagena and 3 in Bogotá), with a cost of over two million dollars and a post-production process lasting 6 months; it is the first film using, as a set, the “Casa de Huéspedes Ilustres de Cartagena” (Cartagena House of Distinguished Guests & Presidential House).

The film is about the story of Sierva María who is 13 years old and wants to learn what kisses taste like. Her parents are nobles and she was raised by African slaves; she lives in the colonial Cartagena de Indias, at times when the Inquisition and fear still dominated the Spanish Empire. When a dog with rabies bites her, the bishop decides that she has been possessed by demons and orders her to have exorcism practiced to save her soul. Impotent before the bishop’s orders and in view of his sick wife’s indifference, the girls’ father obeys and hands her over to a convent where the bishop recommends the soul saving of the girl to Cayetano, his pupil. In a dark convent cell, the priest and girl are seduced by a demon who is even more powerful than faith and rationality…

The cast’s leading role is for Eliza Triana Amaya who interpreted the role of Sierva María, who was chosen among 1000 girls who were auditioned for this role in Cuba, Costa Rica, Brazil and Colombia; Margarita Rosa de Francisco (Paraíso Travel, Ilona llega con la lluvia); the Spanish citizens, Pablo Derqui (Barcelona, a map, The best of me) who interprets the priest Cayetano Delaura; Joaquín Climent (Goya en Burdeos, Los lunes al sol, Pudor); Jordie Dauder (Camino, Negro Buenos Aires, Lope); Mexican citizen Damián Alcazar (Satanás, Las crónicas de Narnia, La ley de Herodes) and the Cuban citizen, Lineth Hernández.