The Movie Teller

In the 1960s, María Margarita, a young woman in a mining town in the Chilean Atacama desert, has the gift of telling movies. She is sent to watch a film starring Marilyn Monroe, Gary Cooper, or Charlton Heston, and tells the movie to her father and four siblings. This is a magical tale of village cinemas in their times of splendor and decadence, translated from Spanish by Margaret Jull Costa.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2023
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

María Margarita, a young woman residing in a mining town nestled within the heart of the arid Chilean Atacama desert during the vibrant 1960s, possesses an extraordinary talent—the ability to narrate movies. Since her childhood, María has been captivated by the magic of cinema, and her passion for storytelling has only grown stronger with each passing year. Whenever a new film arrives at the local village cinema, be it a Hollywood blockbuster featuring iconic stars like Marilyn Monroe, Gary Cooper, or Charlton Heston, or a vibrant Mexican feature brimming with melodious songs, the responsibility of collecting the exact change for a ticket falls upon María's shoulders. Excitedly, she embarks on her journey to the cinema, where she immerses herself in the captivating stories unfolding on the silver screen. Upon her return, María shares the movie's essence with her father, confined to a wheelchair, as well as her four siblings. Soon, the news of María's remarkable talent spreads, and an eager audience gathers around her, eager to hear her captivating tales. Through this poignant and heartwarming narrative, Hernán Rivera Letelier weaves a mesmerizing tale that delves into the grandeur and decadence of village cinemas during their heyday. The Spanish original, penned by Margaret Jull Costa, has been skillfully translated into English, allowing a wider audience to appreciate the rich tapestry of this captivating story.

Weight: 108g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781780870533