La Mary

La Mary

Year: 1974

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: Spanish

Director: Daniel Tinayre

DramaFantasy

A sexually-repressed girl of the Buenos Aires slums slowly goes mad after marrying.

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Timeline & Setting – La Mary (1974)

Explore the full timeline and setting of La Mary (1974). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s–1940s

The story unfolds from the early 1930s through the 1940s in Buenos Aires. It follows a period of urban growth, traditional values, and changing social mores. Key events—such as the tram accident and evolving family dynamics—occur within this decade-spanning backdrop. The era provides the cultural context for Mary’s reputation and the moral judgments surrounding sexuality and propriety.

Location

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Set in Buenos Aires along the Riachuelo river, the film paints a portrait of the city’s crowded working-class neighborhoods. The area is characterized by crowded homes, streetcars, and a tight-knit community where family and reputation matter. The urban setting anchors Mary’s story within a society with strict moral expectations and visible social hierarchies.

🏙️ Urban 🌊 Riverine 🇦🇷 Argentina

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:42

Main Characters – La Mary (1974)

Meet the key characters of La Mary (1974), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mary (Susana Giménez)

A young woman whose supposed visions grant her a troubling aura of authority within the family. Her increasing fixation on fate leads to isolation, volatility, and a chilling, destructive arc as the prophecies appear to come true. Her insistence on controlling destiny clashes with others’ desires, culminating in a violent act.

🔮 Prophecy 💔 Tragedy 🧭 Fate 👪 Family

Cholo (Carlos Monzón)

A meat-packing worker who becomes Mary’s lover and partner. He abandons boxing to start a new life with her, yet struggles with the limits of her prophecy and the expectations of his family. His love turns tense as jealousy and control distort their relationship.

💪 Masculinity ❤️ Love 🧰 Working class

Evaristo (Miguel Ángel Solá)

Mary’s father, a humble worker who feels the weight of his daughter’s renown. He acts as a protective, anxious figure trying to keep the family together amid growing turmoil. His practical outlook contrasts with Mary’s prophetic fears.

👨‍👧 Family 🧭 Protection 🛠️ Working class

Claudia (Olga Zubarry)

Cholo’s sister-in-law who believes Mary’s prophecies and becomes entangled in the family’s dynamics. Her presence underscores the tension between superstition and rational scrutiny. She can be wary of Mary’s influence while still seeking to protect her own place within the clan.

🗝️ Family ties 🗣️ Tension 👪 Loyalty

Ariel (Jorge Rivera López)

Claudia’s husband and Cholo’s brother-in-law. He defends Raul’s courtship and becomes part of the shifting alliances within the family. He dies in a wake after stepping into Cholo’s role at work, contributing to the tragedy surrounding Mary.

⚰️ Death 🕊️ Family betrayals 💼 Workplace

Luisa (Leonor Manso)

Cholo’s sister who remains Mary’s visiting link to the family. Mary’s prophecies extend to Luisa as well, foreshadowing her potential death and highlighting the fragile bond between the two women. Luisa represents a brief, fragile connection to Mary’s world.

👩‍👧 Family 🕯️ Protection 🧭 Loyalty

Sofia (Dora Baret)

Cholo’s sister-in-law who becomes pregnant and faces a dangerous abortion. Her death becomes a catalyst for Mary’s later judgments and the moral debates surrounding the family. Sofia’s tragedy intensifies the film’s critique of reproductive choices under pressure.

👶 Pregnancy 💀 Death 🕊️ Moral consequence

Raul (Alberto Argibay)

Cholo’s brother who begins a relationship with a widow, prompting Mary’s suspicion and scolding. His pursuit of companionship tests Mary’s authority and the family’s tolerance for unconventional choices. His actions contribute to the family’s unraveling dynamics.

💔 Romance 🧭 Boundary-testing 👥 Family conflict

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:42

Major Themes – La Mary (1974)

Explore the central themes of La Mary (1974), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔮 Prophecy

Mary’s claimed visions set the plot in motion and influence how those around her behave. The line between superstition and perceived truth becomes blurred as her predictions seem to shape events. The theme explores how belief and fear can confer power on a young woman within a restrictive society. It also examines the personal cost of living under a supposed fate.

⚖️ Morality

The narrative tests rigid codes around virginity, marriage, and abortion in a conservative urban setting. Mary’s judgments and the family’s reactions reveal hypocrisy and social pressure. The fatal abortion and the subsequent reactions illustrate the dangers of moral policing. The film critiques how society uses morality to control women’s lives.

💔 Family & Obsession

The drama centers on the tensions within Cholo’s family and Mary’s growing influence over them. Affection mutates into jealousy as prophecies and expectations fracture trust. The accumulating cruelties and resentments propel the characters toward a tragic climax. The story suggests how obsessive ties can destroy both individuals and family harmony.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:42

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La Mary Summary

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La Mary Summary

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La Mary Timeline

More About La Mary

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