The true story of “La Llorona”
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The story of “La Llorona” is a popular legend born in Mexico and also spoken of in other Spanish-speaking countries. According to the story, La Llorona is a spirit or ghost of a woman who weeps inconsolably because she lost her children. Let’s see how, because how she lost them… Ahem, ahem…
The legend tells that La Llorona was a beautiful and young woman who married a wealthy man and had several children. However, her husband cheated on her with another woman, and she, desperate and filled with sadness, decided to kill her children and then herself. Well, what is now called “vicarious violence.”
It’s a folkloric tale, there’s no true story behind La Llorona.
From then on, the poor, or rather, her spirit, is condemned to wander the earth seeking her children and crying inconsolably for her great loss. More accurately, for having ended them. The punishment.
The legend of La Llorona has been passed down from generation to generation, and has been adapted into literature, cinema, and popular art. It’s important to note that it’s a folkloric tale, and there’s no true story behind La Llorona.
Popularly, why is the “Llorona” called “Llorona”?
The term “La Llorona” is a compound word in Spanish, which translates literally as “The Crier” or “The Weeping Woman,” referring to the main character of the legend who constantly weeps in search of her children. The term “llorona” references her main characteristic, which is the inconsolable and constant weeping.
Throughout history, La Llorona has been portrayed as a malevolent spirit that haunts children. This fear of La Llorona has become a warning for children and adults who misbehave and don’t obey their parents. It has turned into a story used to teach children to be good and obey their elders.
Several movies have been inspired by the legend of La Llorona, some of them are:
“The Curse of La Llorona” (2019) – an American horror film set in the 1970s, a single mother and her children are pursued by La Llorona, a vengeful spirit seeking to claim the children for herself.
“La Llorona” (2019) – a Mexican horror film directed by Jayro Bustamante, tells the story of a woman accused of murder, and her defense argues that she was possessed by La Llorona.
“The Cry of the Children” (1913) – one of the earliest Mexican horror films, based on the legend of La Llorona, narrates the story of a woman who kills her children and then commits suicide.
“The Legend of La Llorona” (1973) – A Mexican film that tells the story of a woman named Marina who loses her children and becomes La Llorona seeking revenge.
“La Llorona” (2006) – a Mexican horror film directed by Eduardo Rojas, tells the story of a woman terrorized by La Llorona, a malevolent spirit seeking vengeance against her.
Over time, adaptations of the La Llorona legend have continued in cinema, often emphasizing her nature as a malevolent spirit seeking revenge in some form. However, it’s necessary to highlight that not all films about this distinctive character are horror films.
