NCHGS’s Museum and a Movie series showcases independent, international, and historical short films relevant to our museum exhibits and the communities we serve.
March 2022’s feature is Lorena, Light-Footed Woman, a 2019 documentary film from director Juan Carlos Rulfo. The film highlights the life of María Lorena Ramírez, a 27-year-old Rarámuri woman from Chihahua, Mexico, who gained international fame after winning the Cerro Rojo Ultra Trail marathon in 2016 – a 50 kilometre long trail – in a record-breaking time of 07:20, and for doing so while wearing huarache sandals and traditional skirts.
The film is set against the backdrop of the Sierra Tarahumara, a mountain range that extends across four northern Mexican states, characterized by high peaks and deep, winding canyons. Contextualizing Lorena’s life in a family of subsistence farmers, viewers see peaceful pastoral scenes contrasted sharply with the noise and bustle of the cities Lorena passes through in marathons. The film has been described as “breathtaking” and “absolutely extraordinary” – one journalist even wrote, “Lorena. Lorena. Lorena. To watch her run is to love her.”
Lorena, Light-Footed Woman is 28 minutes in length and will be shown at 12:00, 1:00, and 2:00 PM in the John R. Austen Auditorium of the Sigal Museum. Seating will be arranged to accommodate social distancing. Masks must be worn in the museum at all times.