Maria Novaro

The most succesful woman director of Mexican cinema studied Sociology at the
National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and Film Production at the
University Center of Film Studies (CUEC) in Mexico City. She began her career as
assistant director of Alberto Cortés in Amor a la vuelta de la esquina (1984). After
some live-action shorts made in Super 8 and 16 mm., Novaro made Azul celeste
(1988), a short about a pregnant woman looking for her husband in Mexico City. This
short was an episode of a feature film called Historias de la ciudad (1988). Lola (1989)
was her first feature film, followed by Danzón (1991), the short Otoñal (1992) and
Jardín del edén, El (1994). Novaro has been considered an expressionist director
because the importance of colors in her films. Her work has been praised in Europe,
specially in Spain, France and the United Kingdom. In Mexico she's considered a
pioneer in an industry mostly dominated by men. Danzon was an instant hit in Mexico
and was well received overseas. (IMDB-99)

An Island Surrounded by Water
A film by Maria Novaro, 1985, 25 min., Color
A beautiful and poetic account of a young girl's search for her mother, who left mysteriously to join a guerilla movement. The narrative combines her...