In The Echo of Pain of the Many we witness a moving, thought-provoking and rare documentary by a Latin American woman, recording her return from exile to the still dangerous and volatile political environment of contemporary Guatemala.
Over the course of four years, writer-director Ana Lucia Cuevas discovers, through the archived records of the perpetrators of the crimes themselves, the involvement of her own government and foreign Intelligence Services in the abduction, torture and murders of her brother and his young family.
The film will be followed by a discussion with the writer and director and Fred Coker (Camera man/location sound recordist).
Ana Lucia Cuevas also has an exhibition An Enduring Struggle For Justice which is displayed in the Inspire Gallery on the ground floor. This exhibition of archival material documents the ongoing fight for justice in Guatemala.
There will be a free exhibition tour with Ana Lucia on Sunday 16th June, 12.20 – 12.50. All welcome.
Reviews:
“The film melds very effectively the personal and the political. And what is most memorable is the restraint and dignity of the many survivors as they recount another unacceptable chapter in recent history…” Third Cinema revisited.
“The blending of these diverse components forms a cohesive whole, and the artistry in the combination calls to mind Ms. Cuevas’s background as a sculptor and painter.” Resources and Reflections on intersections of human rights, social justice & Disability
“One of the most important aspects of El eco del dolor de mucha gente (2011) is its strong social dimension, that is, the way it builds bridges among innumerable individual traumas and the nation as a whole. By making visible both the process of mourning and the labors of memory, the film creates a collective archive of testimonies; it weaves together a patchwork, a community of survivors whose words and personal pain can resonate in the collective social body.” Filming Responsibly: Ethnicity, Community, and the Nation in Ana Lucía Cuevas’s El eco del dolor de mucha gente Valeria Grinberg Pla
Prizes:
International Film Festival for Peace, Inspiration and Equality. Canada. 2012. Certificate of Merit.
Oaxaca Independent Film Festival. Mexico 2012. Best Documentary.
ICARO. Central American Film Festival. Guatemala. Best Documentary
Festival de Cine Extremo. Monterrey. Mexico 2013. Best Documentary
