7th January, 2009
Within the artistic production of the moving image, the documentary presents a more intimate approach to reality and an opening on to the adventure of multicultural discovery. From the south to the northern most point of the Latin American continent, a careful selection of documentaries establishes a dialogue through close-ups of the different visions of identity.
With more than fifteen international prizes, ‘Raymundo’ brings us a ‘metafilmic’ experience of artistic and cinematographic identity. Powerful Rhythms occupy the screen as ‘Santo Domingo Blues’ documents musical identity. The context of anthropologic and ethnographic identity seen from two different viewpoints is represented in ‘The Plunder’ (Üxüf Xipay) and in ‘Liza…Like Her’.
The new identity of urban conflict and the problem of the displaced is dealt with painfully and beautifully in ‘An Empty House Falls’ (Una Casa Sola se Vence). While Central America speaks out concerning its social condition, violence and the armed conflict in ‘The Weapons of Violence’ (Las Armas de la Violencia) and ‘Along the Pathways’ (Por los Caminos). Finally, a subject of much sensitivity for the Latin Diaspora, clandestine emigration, is aesthetically and authentically treated in ‘Wetback’.
Now it only remains for the lights to dim and the projectors to be turned on, for us to become aware of the state of humanity throughout Latin America.
Sandra Tabares
Documentaries Director
DLA Film Festival