''Sólo de noche Vienes'' is a Mexican film produced by Panamerican Films and Guatemalan producer Manuel Zeceña Diéguez and directed by

Sergio Véjar Sergio Véjar (11 October 1928 – 15 February 2009) was a Mexican cinematographer, film director and screenwriter. His 1963 film ''Los signos del zodiaco'' was entered into the 3rd Moscow International Film Festival. Selected filmography * ' ...

. It starred

Elsa Aguirre Elsa Irma Aguirre Juárez (born 25 September 1930) is a Mexican actress. Career At the beginning of her career she was discovered when she was teenager, in a beauty contest held by a cinematographic production company called ''CLASA Films Mundi ...

and

Julio Alemán Julio Méndez Alemán (November 29, 1933 – April 11, 2012) was a Mexican actor.Herbert Meneses Herbert Meneses (July 17, 1939 – March 6, 2021) was a Guatemalan actor, writer, teacher, and director of film, television, and theater productions. He began his acting career at age 11. He was part of many radio play series.The government of Gu ...

and

Regina Torné Rosa Vierben del Pilar Marina Incháustegui Anaya (born 2 October 1945), known as Regina Torné, is a Mexican actress, singer and television presenter. Telenovelas and series *2014 - Siempre Tuya Acapulco - Soraya Patiño *2011 - Cielo ...

. The plot is about a forbidden romance that takes place during

Holy Week Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...

in a city in

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

. is also an important documentary of the

Holy Week processions in Guatemala Holy Week in Guatemala is celebrated with street expressions of faith, called processions, usually organized by a "hermandad". Each procession of Holy Week has processional floats and steps, which are often religious images of the Passion of Chris ...

of the 1960s.

Plot

Andrés Villalta is a Mexican tourist visiting a city in

to enjoy the

Holy Week processions Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ...

. He meets Remedios, a local socialite married to one of the most powerful men in the country, with whom he has an instant spark. Carmen, Remedios' sister-in-law appears and Remedios hides from her without giving an explanation to Andrés. When Andrés takes her home in his fancy sports car, Remedios lies to him, telling him that her name is Carmen and neglecting to mention she is married. Confusion ensues, making Remedios seem even more mysterious to Andrés. During the film's climax, the whole family gathers to watch the Virgin Mary's silent procession. When Andrés sees Remedios and tries to reach for her, Remedios' husband's associates kill him on the spot. Andrés dies in Remedios' arms, still calling her Carmen. The movie was directed by

, and is based on a screenplay written specifically for the movie by the Mexican writer

Elena Garro Elena Garro (December 11, 1916 – August 22, 1998) was a Mexican screenwriter, journalist, dramaturg, short story writer, and novelist. She has been described as the initiator of the Magical Realism movement, though she rejected this affiliation. ...

. Garro, producer Manuel Zeceña, and Véjar all worked on the final version of the screenplay. The plot shows the impossible love between a Mexican tourist and a mysterious woman who appears and vanishes as if she were a spirit or from another dimension; Guatemala during

is the perfect setting for the mysterious romance. The elusive woman was actually married to a powerful character, who upon discovering her liaison orders the killing of her lover during a procession. The climactic scene shows the infinity of the horizon, the rigidity of the religious and the volatility of love. Since the plot was originally written for the movie it was not included among Garro's literary works.

Filming

The film was filmed in

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...

and

El Salvador El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...

; intriguingly, producer Manuel Zeceña was able to get Alemán and Aguirre to work together despite their strained relationship. Interiors were filmed mainly in

San Salvador San Salvador (; ) is the capital and the largest city of El Salvador and its eponymous department. It is the country's political, cultural, educational and financial center. The Metropolitan Area of San Salvador, which comprises the capital i ...

, in private homes in Santa Tecla and the exclusive neighborhoods of Escalón and San Benito. The exteriors, on the other hand, were filmed at tourist attractions in Puerta del Diablo and Planes de Renderos, as well as in El Salvador; however, since the plot centers around a tourist who went to Central America to watch the Holy Week processions, several processions were filmed in

Guatemala City Guatemala City ( es, Ciudad de Guatemala), known locally as Guatemala or Guate, is the capital and largest city of Guatemala, and the most populous urban area in Central America. The city is located in the south-central part of the country, nest ...

. Therefore, the movie takes place in a fictitious city which is represented alternately by

and

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by French composer

Charles Trenet Louis Charles Augustin Georges Trenet (; 18 May 1913 – 19 February 2001) was a renowned French singer-songwriter who composed both the music and the lyrics to nearly a thousand songs over a career that lasted more than 60 years. These include ...

. The Salvadorian singers Los Hermanos Cárcamo (The Cárcamo Brothers) sang the title song (''I lust for you, love''). In February 2002 Roberto Cárcamo, the lead singer, told an interviewer that they had the opportunity to perform for the movie after

Julio Alemán Julio Méndez Alemán (November 29, 1933 – April 11, 2012) was a Mexican actor.Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

, the movie opened in May 1967 and due to the plot's strong controversy for the times, it was shown in a censored version and only for mature audiences at least 21 years old.

Top billed cast

: Remedios *

Julio Alemán Julio Méndez Alemán (November 29, 1933 – April 11, 2012) was a Mexican actor.Regina Torné Rosa Vierben del Pilar Marina Incháustegui Anaya (born 2 October 1945), known as Regina Torné, is a Mexican actress, singer and television presenter. Telenovelas and series *2014 - Siempre Tuya Acapulco - Soraya Patiño *2011 - Cielo ...

: Carmen * Rodolfo Landa: Marcial (Remedios' husband) * Cosmo Alessio *

Herbert Meneses Herbert Meneses (July 17, 1939 – March 6, 2021) was a Guatemalan actor, writer, teacher, and director of film, television, and theater productions. He began his acting career at age 11. He was part of many radio play series.The government of Gu ...

Notes and references

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Solo de noche vienes Guatemala City San Salvador Holy Week processions Mexican drama films Films about religion Films set in El Salvador Films set in Guatemala