It’s a well-known pressure: the
children of immigrants
frequently find it challenging to meet the standards set by the sacrifices their ancestors made. This dynamic lies at the core of the matter.
Rosario
, a new horror
film starring
Emeraude Toubia
.
It’s a trend for rookie film directors.
Felipe Vargas
Well-acquainted with his story, having been born in Colombia and brought up in South Florida, he shared with Sazua.comSomos how his family “abandoned their relatives, careers, and homes to seek a more secure and peaceful existence in the United States.” He explained, “That placed a significant weight on my shoulders since I felt immensely grateful, yet it also implied an obligation for me—to cherish that sacrifice and ensure I seize every opportunity available to me. This duality filled me with both awe and dread; indeed, the movie portrayed this sentiment accurately.”
When
Rosario
At the outset, the main character is a thriving stockbroker residing solo in New York City. Upon discovering that her deceased grandmother, who was an undocumented immigrant from Latin America, has passed away, she decides to venture across town amidst a severe storm. Her purpose: to ensure her grandmother’s body isn’t misplaced within the bureaucratic process. There, she faces genuinely terrifying events as she reconnects with her heritage, uncovering her late grandma’s involvement in Palo—a spiritual belief system blending elements of African traditions and Catholicism originating in Cuba before spreading widely through Mexico—and numerous hidden ancestral mysteries. In Toubia’s own words shared with Somos magazine, “Not only does she confront personal struggles internally, but externally too.”
Rosario starts off being completely detached from her heritage, believing that her grandmother placed a curse on her due to envy over her numerous achievements. This misunderstanding reveals much about both Rosario’s perception and the challenges ahead for the protagonist. The stereotype of the stern Latin American female figurehead might appear frequently in popular culture (consider ”
Real Women Have Curves
” or “
Like Water for Chocolate
“), yet in reality, it’s much more intricate. Rosario explores this intricacy, unveiling the
intergenerational trauma
that has molded its main character.
The reality is that Rosario only thinks her grandmother can commit such malevolence due to her own embarrassment — regarding her heritage and the women who have made sacrifices for her. This sense of shame distorts her view of her family, whose actions stem from affection rather than ill will. Toubia recognizes this trend frequently: “Often, we attempt to portray an image contrary to what we truly are to gain acceptance…to belong. We lose sight of our origins and identity, as well as the efforts our relatives have undertaken,” she stated. “It’s when we begin to feel pride in these aspects that we genuinely radiate and reach our fullest potential.”
Without revealing too much, Rosario undertakes a voyage of rediscovery. She comes to appreciate and accept Palo as an integral part of her cultural heritage, despite the movie emphasizing some unsettling aspects of the faith for thrills. “Regarding Palo, we selected this religion because it involves sacrifices; you offer something to receive something else,” explained Vargas. “Everything comes with a price.” This theme aligns well conceptually, yet it can be disappointing not to witness any representation of Africa or Africans as we learn about Palo’s origins rooted in Africa through Rosario reading a description.
Afro-Latine characters
On screen, it feels as though the movie indirectly associates the occult and all the terror Rosario experiences with Blackness—regardless of whether this was intentional. It becomes challenging to overlook how the frightening elements she faces stem from an African tradition that both her and countless other Latinx individuals might view as alien to their own identities, justifiably or unjustly.
On his end, Vargas expresses his desire to mainstream Palo along with other Latin American and Caribbean belief systems, referring to the tumultuous fusion of African and Indigenous practices with European colonization as “the history of America.”
A fantastic Catholic horror film or Christian horror movie establishes certain themes and visual styles,” he stated. “I aspire to achieve something similar with ‘Palo’ and ultimately explore numerous other Latin myths, cultures, and folklore.” He continued, “These elements represent our spiritual heritage. They connect us to our forebears, our origins, our environment, as well as the individuals and communities surrounding us. It holds genuine significance and immense power.
That burden — of representing
first-gen identity
— is an element that Rosario holds onto. Were there numerous portrayals of Palo and other African or Indigenous belief systems, its usage here might seem less contentious. However, such representations are absent. Viewers who are unfamiliar with Palo could leave with the impression that it solely involves making pacts with malevolent entities. This mirrors how Hollywood often operates.
with Vodou
Horror movies often flatten intricate African spiritual systems into representations of evil and “uncivilized” mysticism. Despite attempting to pay homage to its subject matter, Rosario edges close to this pitfall.
However, Vargas made an effort to present a balanced and truthful narrative about Palo. According to him, “The ‘entirely Latinx cast… consulted with actual practitioners,’ visited botánicas for genuine artifacts, which truly influenced the movie making it feel more authentic.” He views the protagonist’s arc—transitioning from ignorance of Palo to reciting prayers and embracing its customs—as one where characters come to terms with their heritage and legacy. Despite appearing triumphant at first glance, the concluding scene suggests that Rosario might still be tormented by the spiritual elements associated with Palo rather than being comforted by them.
Nevertheless, this movie conveys a meaningful lesson: make sure to frequently reach out to your older relatives. Improved communication between Rosario and her abuela could have spared her considerable distress and wasted effort. Beyond that, our ancestors possess invaluable insights into history, which has profoundly influenced who we are today. Therefore, everyone should strive to be better listeners and seize opportunities to seek their wisdom before it’s too late.
Rosario experiences a supernatural event that guides her through her family lineage, enabling her to transform into a better self. For the rest of us, we should simply utilize our phones instead. Personally, I have at least one aunt to reach out to.
Interested in seeing more? Here’s some additional R29 content for you!
