Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto (2017) movie poster

Plot Summary

La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 93 mins · Spanish
Directed by
Adolfo Aguilar
Starring
Jorge Benavides

Jacinta, an Andean indigenous woman, embarks on a journey back to her hometown of Chongomarca with the goal of locating her missing husband, Wasaberto. Upon her return, she discovers that a multinational construction company plans to build a large hotel, threatening to displace her and other residents from their homes and traditional way of life. She must navigate this conflict while searching for her husband and protecting her community.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 What happens: full plot
  2. 2 Plot questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto (2017) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Jacinta returns to Chongomarca (a fictional town in the Ayacucho department) with a clear mission: to find her husband, Wasaberto. The journey quickly tangles with a looming threat to the town itself, as she crosses paths with Julinho, an engineer from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, which has plans to tear down the place where Jacinta lives in order to build a grand hotel complex.

Her old friend Guillermina adds a crucial, troubling layer to the story: Odebrecht reportedly acquired the property illegally through a savvy real estate swindler, and Wasaberto had already traveled to Lima to gather the documents needed to stop the project and protect their home. This revelation compels Jacinta to head back to the capital, determined to uncover the truth and safeguard what matters most to her.

In Lima, Jacinta is steered by Father Bartolomé, who provides information about Wasaberto and the tangled web surrounding the missing property papers. The search then shifts to the parish house, where Jacinta prays for a sign or some guidance, hoping for a miracle that will help her husband and their home endure. Her quiet moment of faith is interrupted by Rafa, a street girl who introduces herself and volunteers to accompany Jacinta to the Notary, signaling the unexpected allies that will enter this perilous chase.

At the Notary, Johana—one of the officials who had once aided Wasaberto—agrees to help Jacinta with the necessary documents. Her efforts unfold under the watchful eye of Dra Sifuentes and her henchmen Agapito and Yuca, whose presence hints at darker forces at play. On Johana’s recommendation, Jacinta and Rafa go to the police station to file a missing persons report for Wasaberto. Lieutenant Vásquez suggests a careful but practical approach: rule out the worst possibilities by checking the General Hospital and the Morgue.

Terrified, Jacinta and Rafa make their way to the General Hospital, scanning the wards and the N.N. rooms for any sign of Wasaberto. The search is sobering, as the hospital bustle is filled with unnamed patients; none of them matches Wasaberto, leaving the case unresolved and the night heavy with worry. Back in the administrative orbit, Johana seeks help from Napoleón, a court worker who loves her, hoping to move the paperwork forward while Agapito keeps a shadowy watch. The tension tightens as Dr. Sifuentes calls to caution Johana against continuing—an ominous warning that this topic does not suit her, and a sign of the scam’s reach.

Napoleón’s information disrupts the Notary’s routine: he confirms that the remaining documentation exists, but the path is blocked by Dr. Sifuentes’s machinations. The danger escalates when Dr. Sifuentes orders Agapito to kill Johana if she stays too close to the truth. With panic in the air, Johana seizes the moment and escapes with the documents, pursued and terrorized by the conspirators.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Jacinta joins Johana in a desperate attempt to locate Wasaberto by searching the morgue. They are relieved to find that none of the deceased matches Wasaberto’s description, sparing her from another heart-wrenching moment and pushing the quest forward. The two then leave the hospital to reunite with Napoleón, hoping the whole set of documents will finally seal the case.

But the danger is never far away. Napoleón’s arrival is followed by a brutal confrontation, as Dra Sifuentes and her henchmen seize the documents and expose the full extent of the scam, including Wasaberto’s possible kidnapping. Napoleón wrestles with Agapito and Yuca, while Johana clutches the papers and makes a risky escape. In a cruel twist, Dra Sifuentes shoots Johana in the back as Jacinta staggers through the chaos, taking a bullet to the chest and collapsing in the desperate melee.

It seems the end is near, but then a remarkable moment unfolds in heaven: Jacinta meets Rafa, who is revealed to be an angel. Rafa explains that for her courage and steadfast love, she would be allowed to return to earth to continue the search for Wasaberto. She awakens in the hospital, where Father Bartolomé is at her side, and the pair heads to the warehouse where Wasaberto, Johana, and Napoleón were last held.

Armed with renewed resolve, Jacinta confronts Dra Sifuentes and her accomplices once again. This time the arrival of the police restores a fragile sense of justice as the criminals are arrested. The documents are recovered, and while they reveal that Wasaberto had fled to a destination unknown, they also provide crucial leverage to pin down the scam.

With the legal and documentary pieces in hand, Jacinta returns to Chongomarca and works to halt the construction project. Yet the emotional weight remains heavy: she has not yet found Wasaberto, a truth that gnaws at her even as progress is made. Guillermina comforts her with a letter from Wasaberto, telling of his plan to arrive on the afternoon train. The final dash to the station is swift and hopeful, and Jacinta finally reunites with Wasaberto, closing one chapter of an arduous journey even as new questions about their future linger on the horizon.

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:05

Was this helpful?

Plot questions answered

La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto (2017): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Jacinta travel to Lima?

Jacinta travels to Lima after learning that her husband Wasaberto had already gone there to collect documents that could stop the illegal construction project. She needs these documents to prove that Odebremrt acquired the property illegally and to protect her home in Chongomarca.

  • lima
  • documents
  • wasaberto
  • construction
  • property
Q2

Who is Rafa and why does she help Jacinta?

Rafa appears to be a street girl who offers to accompany Jacinta to the Notary, but she is later revealed to be an angel. After Jacinta dies from being shot, Rafa meets her in heaven and explains that Jacinta's courage and love will allow her to return to earth to continue searching for Wasaberto.

Foreshadowing: Rafa's unexpected kindness and willingness to help a stranger hint at something more than ordinary human motivation.

  • rafa
  • angel
  • heaven
  • guide
Q3

Why is Dra Sifuentes trying to stop Jacinta?

Dra Sifuentes is involved in the illegal property scam. She orchestrated the fraudulent acquisition of the Chongomarca land for the Odebremrt construction project. When Jacinta gets close to obtaining the documents that could expose the scam, Dra Sifuentes orders her henchmen to kill Johana and stop Jacinta.

  • dra sifuentes
  • scam
  • corruption
  • documents
Q4

What happened to Wasaberto?

Wasaberto traveled to Lima before Jacinta to gather the documents proving the illegal property deal. He was apparently kidnapped by Dra Sifuentes's accomplices. Later, the recovered documents reveal he managed to escape and fled to an unknown destination, but he sent a letter saying he would return on the afternoon train.

  • wasaberto
  • missing
  • kidnapped
  • documents
Q5

How does Jacinta survive after being shot?

After Dra Sifuentes shoots Jacinta in the chest during the confrontation, Jacinta dies and finds herself in heaven. There she meets Rafa, who reveals herself as an angel. Rafa tells Jacinta that her courage and steadfast love have earned her the chance to return to earth to continue her search for Wasaberto.

  • heaven
  • resurrection
  • shot
  • rafa
Q6

Why does the construction company want to build in Chongomarca?

Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company represented by engineer Julinho, plans to build a grand hotel complex in Chongomarca. The company acquired the property illegally through a real estate swindler, and they are determined to push through the project despite the fraudulent land deal.

  • odebrecht
  • hotel
  • construction
  • chongomarca
Q7

Why does Johana agree to help Jacinta?

Johana is a Notary official who previously helped Wasaberto when he was gathering documents in Lima. She agrees to assist Jacinta for the same reason, she opposes the illegal scam and wants to help recover the papers that can prove the property was acquired fraudulently.

  • johana
  • notary
  • documents
  • wasaberto
Q8

What do the documents prove and why are they important?

The documents prove that Odebremrt acquired the property in Chongomarca illegally through fraud. They are the key to stopping the construction project and protecting the residents from displacement. Both Wasaberto and Jacinta risk their lives to obtain these papers.

  • documents
  • fraud
  • property
  • legal
Q9

Why does Jacinta search the hospital and morgue?

After filing a missing persons report, Lieutenant Vásquez advises Jacinta to check the General Hospital and Morgue to rule out the worst possibilities about Wasaberto's whereabouts. Terrified that her husband may be injured or dead, she searches both locations but finds no one matching his description.

  • hospital
  • morgue
  • wasaberto
  • search
Q10

Why does Dra Sifuentes kill Johana?

Dra Sifuentes orders Johana killed because Johana knows too much about the illegal property scam. After discovering that Johana is helping Jacinta obtain the documents that could expose the fraud, Dra Sifuentes has her shot in the back as Johana tries to escape with the papers.

  • johana
  • murder
  • shot
  • conspiracy
Q11

How does Jacinta finally find Wasaberto?

After defeating Dra Sifuentes and recovering the documents, Jacinta returns to Chongomarca. Guillermina gives her a letter from Wasaberto explaining he fled and would arrive on the afternoon train. Jacinta rushes to the station and reunites with him.

  • reunion
  • train station
  • letter
  • guillermina

Movie threads

More Movies Like La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Urgent Social Justice Thrillers like La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto

Fast-paced stories where one person fights powerful forces threatening their community. If you enjoyed the fast-paced fight against corporate greed in La paisana Jacinta, you'll like these movies. This list features tense thrillers where determined heroes take on powerful antagonists to protect their homes and communities from exploitation.

  • urgent
  • tense
  • determined
  • anxious
  • hopeful
  • social justice
  • Tone: tense, determined
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a protagonist discovering a grave injustice against their community. Faced with a conspiracy and a ticking clock, they must gather evidence, rally allies, and confront the villainous forces directly, often leading to a tense, action-filled climax. The journey is defined by high urgency and a clear moral conflict.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared high intensity, fast pacing, and tense tone. They all feature a central conflict pitting a lone defender against systemic corruption, creating a coherent experience of desperate, determined action in the name of social justice.

Bittersweet Quest Movies like La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto

Journeys where the protagonist's search leads to a win that feels earned but painful. Fans of La paisana Jacinta's emotional search for her missing husband will appreciate these films. Discover similar stories where a personal journey is intertwined with a larger struggle, leading to a resolution that is hopeful yet shadowed by the sacrifices made along the way.

  • bittersweet
  • determined
  • hopeful
  • tense
  • personal quest
  • emotional cost
  • Tone: determined, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives often follow a dual structure: a core personal objective (like a search) and a parallel, larger-scale problem (like a community threat). The hero's pursuit weaves these threads together. Success is achieved, but the path is fraught with loss and struggle, resulting in an ending that acknowledges the pain endured alongside the triumph.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their bittersweet ending feel and moderate emotional weight. They blend a determined, hopeful drive with tense challenges, creating a specific emotional pattern where the conclusion satisfies but also acknowledges the scars of the journey.

Every angle

La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about La paisana Jacinta: En búsqueda de Wasaberto in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app