P2.

2 Analyzing a Scene

In La Llorona, there are several instances in the film in which the director, Jayro Bustamante,
uses film techniques in order to set the mood of the film. An example of this is at the very
beginning of the movie with Carmen being the first shot we see. It is a close up shot that pans out
of Carmen saying a prayer with a group of others including Natalia. This shot in particular
created an atmosphere or mood for me because it was a little eerie the way this is the first thing
we are introduced to before even knowing any character names. Carmen’s voice of her praying is
the first thing we hear in front of a black screen before the visuals start showing up on the screen.

Another instance for me in which Jayro Bustamante created an atmosphere or mood was when
La Llorona (Alma) or other missing/dead people would show up in the large crowd of people
protesting outside the windows of their house. I found it interesting the way these scenes were
shot because Alma and the missing people on the posters would clearly be seen from far away
and the spotlight was definitely on them. It makes it creepier knowing these people outside with
the crowd were already dead, definitely foreshadowing the undead haunting them in the film.

I also found the entire scene of them coming out of the ambulance and into their home a very
chaotic scene despite their security guard saying it was a “peaceful protest.” It most definitely
was not with all the police force protecting them from harm and people throwing animal blood.
People were angry and you could definitely feel the heat of the crowd like you were in it
yourself.