• 1h 44m
• Premiere 2021

Erendira doesn't want to die

Left Bank Theater

This powerful play is by Ukrainian playwright Lena Lyahushonkova, inspired by the work of Gabriel García Márquez. It's directed by Maksym Golenko, known for his Hollywood-style action and sensational flair. "Erendira Doesn't Want to Die" fits his signature perfectly: it's full of beauty, raw honesty, and relentless energy, with a unique Ukrainian fire! Anastasia Pustovit stars as Erendira and Dmytro Oliynyk plays the Grandmother. Their story is harsh, deeply emotional, and brutally realistic. The plot begins with a journalist uncovering the shocking lives of 14-year-old Erendira and her grandmother, a notorious smuggler's widow. After a devastating fire destroys their home, the grandmother comes up with a horrific plan: to sell her own granddaughter's virginity. For 220 pesos and a can of stewed meat, Erendira's freedom is bartered. The grandmother intends to use Erendira to pay off the debt, but it quickly becomes chillingly clear that this "repayment" will lead to lifelong slavery for the girl. The play brilliantly weaves together carnival-like spectacle with sharp political satire, blending the rational with the irrational, and the grotesque with stark reality. It will leave you wondering how such a grim situation could still exist somewhere in the world.