Karla Souza Stars in Legítima, the Film Retelling Yakiri Rubio's Harrowing Survival Story
A new film, Legítima, tells the real-life story of Yakiri Rubio, whose case sparked national outrage in Mexico. The movie stars Karla Souza and is based on Ana Katiria Suárez Castro’s book En legítima defensa. Souza attended the premiere but chose not to share details about her role. In December 2013, Yakiri Rubio was attacked, kidnapped, and raped by two men. During the assault, she managed to grab one attacker’s knife and killed him in self-defence. Authorities arrested her on December 17, 2013, but released her on March 5, 2014, after ruling the act justified.
Her imprisonment triggered widespread protests and the viral #YakiriLibre campaign. After her release, Rubio became involved in violence prevention programmes.
The film adaptation, directed by Elisa Miller and produced by Pimienta Films under Nicolás Celis, draws directly from Rubio’s ordeal. Meanwhile, Souza also recently appeared at the Mexico City premiere of México 86, co-starring Diego Luna. Rubio’s case remains a landmark in Mexico’s legal and social history. The film Legítima now brings her story to a wider audience, while Souza’s involvement adds further attention to the issue. Rubio continues her advocacy work against gender-based violence.
