Although some of the early scenes were filmed with striking black and white compositions, as the story unfolds, the film's style devolves into that of a standard glossy melodrama.  However, the overwrought drama, whose title translates as "Ash Wednesday," has been done in style, and it is reminiscent of Hollywood's golden age of "women's pictures."  This tale of unrequited love and retribution is told against an interesting backdrop of early 20th century Mexican history when Roman Catholic clerics and nuns were persecuted and anti-Catholic feelings ran high.  The central character, Victoria, is a strong woman who carries a hatred for clerics from a devastating incident in her youth.  Lana Turner or Joan Crawford would have chewed scenery in the part and probably have chewed Maria Felix to get the role.  However, Maria Felix suffers and hates and wears high fashion with the best of Hollywood's leading ladies, and she has an elegance, beauty, and talent of her own that dominate the film.  None of the male actors makes an impression, and the object of her supposed unrequited love elicits no visible sparks, which leaves the viewer mystified as to why she is attracted to him, especially when two younger and better looking men are interested in her.  However, if you love Joan Crawford movies of the 40s and 50s, then you might want to wallow in this one.  Note:  the DVD is in Spanish with NO English subtitles.

Spanish-language cinema across Spain and Latin America is united by its engagement with history, cultural identity, and social transformation. In Spain, films often balance artistic experimentation with popular genres while reflecting on memory, politics, and family. In Latin America, cinema has been deeply tied to questions of colonial legacy, resistance, and community resilience, ranging from intimate dramas to bold political allegories.

Ana Torrent in The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The war genre features armed conflicts, both historical and fictional, and the experiences of individuals and groups involved in warfare. This genre explores the physical, emotional, and moral challenges faced by soldiers, civilians, and others affected by war.

A prostitute falls in love with an older man, who was a young priest during the Cristero War in Mexico in 1926-29.

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Arturo de Córdova and María Félix in Ash Wednesday (1958)

Ash Wednesday

Photos3

Top Cast32

User reviews2

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed