Our Lady of the Chinese Shop

media release: Angola | 2022 | DCP | 99 min. | Portuguese with English subtitles

Director: Ery Claver

Cast: Cláudia Púcuta, David Caracol, Willi Ribeiro

A mass-produced Virgin Mary doll, imported by a Chinese merchant, profoundly impacts the lives of three residents of Luanda, Angola. Through the stories of a grieving mother, a man searching for his missing dog, and a barber turned cult leader, the film explores the doll’s unsettling influence on the postcolonial city. Claver’s debut is a haunting meditation on faith, commerce, and the complexities of modern Angola. Presented with the support of UW-Madison’s African Studies Program and Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program (LACIS).

Admission free for all screenings, seating limited. No admission 15 minutes after scheduled start times. Please visit our website for a complete listing of programs and descriptions.