In this harrowing tale of drug trafficking, Maria, a pregnant teenager from Colombia, travels to America with drugs lodged in her intestinal tract in order to provide much-needed money for her family. This film is thought-provoking in many ways, prompting a critical analysis of our drug policies, as well as simple economics and the disastrous effects of what years of exploitation has done to the poor of Third World countries. Director Joshua Marston won an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay, and Catalina Moreno was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Maria. She is one of only three Hispanic actresses ever to be nominated for the Award for Best Actress.
