Rita of the Sky
Synopsis
Rita of the Sky is a 74-minute documentary about the mystery of Rita, a 50-year-old woman who was erroneously placed in a Kansas mental institution because her unrecognized native language was described as “guttural noises” of a mentally ill person. Since she spoke no English, she was declared mentally ill and sent to a Kansas mental hospital for 10 years.
The film was shot in Kansas and Mexico. Following trails, filmmaker Kathryn Ferguson filmed the amazing route Rita walked through the Sierra Madre on her long trip. The film traces her arduous journey from rocky paths in the mountains of the Barranca del Cobre (Copper Canyon), down to the Chihuahuan desert, into the flatlands of Kansas.
Awards and Festivals:
Arizona International Film Festival: 2 awards
1. Best Feature Documentary
2. Best of Arizona
Cherokee Nation International Film Festival: Best Documentary
Film Festival Official Selections
- Arizona International Film Festival (Arizona)
- Cherokee Nation International Film Festival (Oklahoma)
- Boston Latino International Film Festival (Boston)
- LA Femme Film Festival (Los Angeles)
- Alamos Mexico Internacional Festival de Cine: Featured Film
Kathryn (Rita shoot)
- Ruben shoots