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Drama

The Desert Within (2008): Cast & Plot

The Desert Within (2008) movie poster

The Desert Within is a 2008 drama directed by Rodrigo Plá, starring Mario Zaragoza as Elias, Diego Cataño and Dolores Heredia. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes.

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The Desert Within (2008) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 50m (110 min)
Director
Rodrigo Plá
Genre
Drama
Original language
Spanish
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Desert Within About?

The premise of The Desert Within without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

To redeem himself from a great sin, a man dedicates himself to building a church.

The Desert Within Themes & Keywords

· 19 tags
  • cristero war
  • anti religion
  • mexica
  • 1920s
  • man
  • sin
  • church
  • dead children
  • hanged child
  • religious fanaticism
  • part animated
  • nudity
+7 more
  • incest
  • hanged man
  • father son relationship
  • father daughter relationship
  • desert
  • cross
  • brother sister relationship
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Cast & crew

The Desert Within Cast & Characters

Mario Zaragoza leads the cast as Elias, with Diego Cataño as Aureliano and Dolores Heredia as Maria Dolores. Directed by Rodrigo Plá; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Rodrigo Plá

More films directed by Rodrigo Plá, best-rated first: A Monster with a Thousand Heads, The Other Tom and The Eye on the Nape.

Full filmography
Plot

The Desert Within Plot Summary

What happens in The Desert Within from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Set against Mexico’s Cristero War, a conflict from 1926 to 1929 when the government banned Catholicism and persecuted clergy, the film traces a path of faith, fear, and consequence. Elias, Diego Cataño, follows his wife’s wishes by seeking out a priest to perform the last rites on their unborn son, whom she fears could die from a fall she endured. After locating a priest, Elias persuades him to return with him to the village to administer the rites, even as he risks the safety of the entire community.

Full summary

The whole story of The Desert Within, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Desert Within?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

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  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which historical conflict serves as the backdrop for the film?

Details

The Desert Within Also Known As

Also known as “Desierto Adentro”.

Also known as
  • Desierto Adentro

Seen The Desert Within?

FAQ

The Desert Within FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Desert Within, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Desert Within?

The Desert Within runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).

When was The Desert Within released?

The Desert Within was released on March 11, 2008.

Who directed The Desert Within?

The Desert Within was directed by Rodrigo Plá.

More films by Rodrigo Plá

Who is in the cast of The Desert Within?

The Desert Within stars Mario Zaragoza as Elias, Diego Cataño as Aureliano and Dolores Heredia as Maria Dolores, among 10 credited actors.

Does The Desert Within have a post-credit scene?

No. The Desert Within has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is The Desert Within in?

The original language of The Desert Within is Spanish.

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