At a mere 46-minute running time, writer/director Trivikram Gajulapalli's Chiquita isn't your usual narrative feature fare in a myriad of ways. At times, the film dabbles in hippie-tinged cinematic fare; other times, this is a film that almost feels like faith-based cinema. Admittedly, nowhere near the usual faith-based cinematic efforts as the faith in question is closer to Hindu. 

The film centers around Charles (Jody Dean), a late sixties biker living alone in Texas who balances a love for freedom with memories of loss. During meditation, he has a vision of his granddaughter, Olivia (Evelyn Owen), and is motivated to invite his somewhat estranged daughter Anna (Kara Rainer) and her family to visit despite some clear expectations, or conditions, laid out by Anna. As he prepares his home for the visit, he solicits the assistance of a young college student, Freyja (Cy Gan), leading to memories, stories, and recall of a long existing vision of a little girl he calls Chiquita (Ananya Krishna Enuganti). 

Unsurprisingly, the film is named Chiquita after all, the film's story ultimately hinges upon the mysterious Chiquita and her presence. Discovering this meaning will assist Charles as he moves toward healing and resolution of family tensions. 

Jody Dean makes for a warm and winning presence as Charles, a slightly scruffy biker still a little prone to getting into fisticuffs yet also devoted to his own spiritual pursuits. He's an interesting fellow, a freedom lover who also seems to long for some sense of connection. Kara Rainer shines as Anna, whose faith journey has traveled differently yet who also is capable of deep appreciation of Charles and his desire to connect with his granddaughter (nicely portrayed by Evelyn Owen). Ananya Krishna Enuganti is appropriately serene and mysterious as Chiquita. 

Lensing by Dennis Thomas is effective throughout. The original music by Rohit Gopalakrishnan fits Gajulapalli's storytelling quite nicely. 

Distributed via your usual streaming platforms via FilmHub, Chiquita is a satisfying effort immersed in cultural understanding and healing. It also, I must say, features one of the year's most intriguing movie posters. 

Check it out on Amazon Prime Video, Plex, Fawesome, Typhoon, Filmzie, Hungama, and Youtube among other platforms. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic