Area Studies: South America Filmography
Titles Available on DVD as of November 15, 2009

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See also:
Area Studies: Mexico
Area Studies: Central America and the Caribbean
Cinema of Latin America

5 factories worker control in Venezuela. 2006. (81 min.). "5 Factories provides a penetrating look at the Bolivarian socio-economic project designed to challenge the dominant neo-liberal development model. Since the election of Hugo Chávez in 1998, the Venezuelan government has implemented reforms to transform the nation into what Chávez and his supporters refer to as a form of democratic socialism. As a component of this economic transformation, the government has supported co-ownership initiatives in which workers' councils play a key role in company management." -- taken from film's website. "Presents 5 case studies of [Venezuelan] factories producing aluminum, textiles, ketchup, cocoa and paper. Each of these factories has been transformed into cooperative partnerships between the worker and the state. Internally, the companies' decision-making structures are characterized by a lack of hierarchy. Teams of managers are elected by the workers, and the work is organized from the bottom-up (rather than the top-down) by management" -- Container. DVD 3609

Actores secundarios. 2005. (81 min.). Documentary on the history of the student movent of the 1980s which opposed the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. DVD 5416.

Amazon journal. 1995. (58 min.). This documentary chronicles recent political events in the Brazilian Amazon. Beginning with the assasination of Chico Mendes in 1988 and ending with the massacre of Yanomami Indians in 1993, this five year journey provides an illuminating perspective on the volatile changes of this era. Besides documenting events, O'Connor analyzes the complex interaction between semi-isolated indigenous societies and "outsiders." This new release from a veteran observer of the Amazon scene sheds new light on cultural confrontation. DVD 6305

Amor, mujeres y flores Love, women, and flowers. 1988. (58 min.). Describes the health hazards workers in Colombia's flower growing industry face from pesticides and their efforts to organize for better working conditions. DVD 6166 and VHS 2560.

Antônia - o filme. 2007. (88 min.). A soulful look into the lives of four women living on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Determined to escape their poverty-stricken lives, they learn that out of struggle comes strength and the courage to continue on. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 5756

Argentina Hope in hard times. 2004. (ca. 74 min.). "'Argentina: Hope in hard times' joins in the processions and protests, attends street-corner neighborhood assemblies, visits workers' cooperatives and urban gardens, taking a close-up look at the ways in which Argentines are picking up the pieces of their devastated economy and creating new possibilities for the future. A spare narrative, informal interview settings, and candid street scenes allow the pervasive strength, humor, and resilience of the Argentine people to tell these tales. Their energy is reflected in the film's vibrant music and lively pace; their optimism and pride in its message of hope for people in other parts of the world, who just may be inspired themselves to seek new answers." --from www.bullfrogfilms.org. DVD 1026

Banking on disaster. 1987. (78 min.). A three part documentary filmed over a ten year period exposes the detrimental effects of deforestation interlinked with roadbuilding and colonization in Rondonia, Brazil. DVD 6137 and VHS 760

Brazil. 2004. (37 min.). "This controversial program highlights the political initiatives taken by Brazil's top two religious entities: Catholics and evangelical Protestants. It argues that the Roman Catholic Church has always been fused with the nation's identity, from statues of Christ in Rio de Janiero to mark the first centenary of Brazil's independence to the thousands of Brazilian flags waved during the morning mass at the Cathedral of Aparecida. Yet the Church has seemed aloof to many Brazilians; fewer than one in ten attend Mass regularly. With the growing power of the evangelical movement, a battle against the Catholic establishment begins for political collusion at the time of a crucial presidential election"--Container. DVD 1279

Brazil a report on torture. 1971. (60 min.). In 1971 the Brazilian military released 70 political prisoners in exchange for the Swiss ambassador kidnapped by the revolutionary underground. Handcuffed together they were flown to Santiago, Chile where this film was made. The ex-prisoners narrate and demonstrate the torture practices of the Brazilian military. DVD 2206

Budding business. 2003. (53 min.). "The typical Valentine's Day bouquet is the product of an elaborate South American growing operation, a complicated airborne distribution network, and sophisticated European trading markets akin to stock exchanges. This program describes the entire process in detail, clearly illustrating the global nature of the floral industry. Shot in Ecuador, Colombia, France, and Holland, the video shows how supply and demand, seasonal dynamics, global competition, and other issues affect the production and transportation of a fragile, perishable commodity, which, although traded on a massive scale, moves according to highly emotional market forces."--Container. DVD 6035

Carandiru. 2004. (ca. 145 min.). Set in Sao Paulo's House of Detention. An oncologist arrives at the jail to test patients for HIV infection. Seeing the disease, overcrowding, and rampant circulation of drugs, the doctor comes to realize the internal power structure among the prisoners. Narratives develop, including the attempted murder of Dagger, the solitary confinement of Chico, and the romance between Lady Di and Too Bad. The doctor eventually sees the prisoners as survivors, leading up to the violent conclusion: a reconstruction of the October 2, 1992, prison riot known as the Carandiru Massacre. HOME USE COLLECTION 987

Cartoneros. 2006. (60 min.). "Follows the paper recycling process in Buenos Aires from the trash pickers who collect paper informally through middlemen in warehouses, to executives in large corporate mills. The process exploded into a multimillion dollar industry after Argentina's latest economic collapse. The film is both a record of an economic and social crisis and an invitation to audiences to rethink the value of trash"--Container. DVD 3323

City life. 2001. (27 min.). Follows Marta Suplicy, the mayor of São Paulo, Brazil, as she visits schools, hospitals, favelas, and a shelter for battered women, in her quest to improve the living conditions of the city. DVD 1865

Cleaning up corruption. 1997. (30 min.). This program deals with anti-corruption measures in Uganda, Brazil and Singapore. DVD 1829

Coca Mama the war on drugs. 2001. (52 min.). Shows the disastrous effects of U.S. drug policy on the coca farmers in Bolivia and Colombia, who are paid by the drug cartels to grow the coca and then attacked by drug patrols using fumigation planes. In America, there is no evidence that the "war on drugs" has diminished the supply of drugs, and prisons are filled with young dealers and addicts. DVD 1634

Cocaine war. 2005. (60 min.). Documents political and social problems created by the 40-year Colombian civil war and the country's production of cocaine. DVD 5026

Cocalero. 2006. (94 min.). An Aymara Indian coca leaf grower named Evo Morales travels through the Andes and Amazon in jeans and sneakers, leading a historic bid to become Bolivia's first indigenous president. The filmmakers capture the intimate moments and Morales' rise to power. DVD 4104

Conquistadors. 2001. (240 min.). One of history's most fateful chapters and greatest adventures. The exploration of the America's by Spanish soldier-explorers, and the experiences and tragedies they had once there. DVD 5860

The debt of dictators. 2005. (46 min.). "Exposes the irresponsible lending to brutal dictators by multinational financial institutions. Revealing the widespread impoverishment resulting from these debts, the film transports viewers to Argentina, South Africa, and the Philippines, where essential services have been sacrificed in order to repay these illegitimate loans. In each of the cases, the government pays more in servicing the foreign debts than it does on all essential social services combined... Makes a compelling case for the forgiveness of foreign loans accrued by some of history's worst dictators, debts that exacerbate the suffering of the victims of both the dictators and the institutions that profited from their rule" -- Container. DVD 3608

The devil's miner. 2005. (82 min.). The story of 14 year-old Basilio Vargas and his 12 year-old brother Bernardino as they work in the sixteenth century Bolivian silver mines of Cerro Rico (Potosí). Cerro Rico miners believe that Satan, as represented by hundreds of statues constructed in the mines, determines whether they live or die there. DVD 2983

Doing the right thing. 2001. (30 min.). Porto Alegre, the capital of Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, was once an ordinary, dirty, Brazilian port city. Through a direct democracy program known as the "participatory budget," transformation has taken place, including a fallen unemployment rate, an excellent public transportation system, and the dramatic improvement of poor neighborhoods. This program traces the experiences of two women, both born in poor slum areas, who have risen through this program as neighborhood leaders. DVD 1866

Eduardo the healer. 1978. (55 min.). Describes the work of Eduardo, a folk healer in Las Delicias, Peru. VHS 4453

Evo Morales. 2008. (60 min.). Evo Morales speaks to the American University community about his experiences as President of Bolivia. DVD 5135

Favela rising. 2005. (82 min.). Documents how former drug-trafficker, Anderson Sá and the Grupo Cultural AfroReggae are working to unite a Rio slum, or favela, against a violent drug industry and police oppression. DVD 4157

The feast. 1970. (29 min.). Examines the first stages of alliance formation between two mutually hostile Yanomanö Indian villages in southern Venezuela and northern Brazil. Describes in detail the preparations for a feast involving the inhabitants of the villages and presents scenes of chanting, dancing and trading at the feast. VHS 1676

Fitzcarraldo. Peru. 1999. (157 min.). Story of a man obsessed with a dream to build his own personal opera house in a remote Peruvian town. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 3540 and VHS 514

From the ground up. 2008. (54 min.). Shows each phase of coffee production, from the moment it is picked until it gets consumed. DVD 4755

Frontline World stories from a small planet, October 25, 2005. (60 min.). First segment. Peru : the curse of Inca gold (30 min.). Lowell Bergman travels to the Peruvian Andes to uncover the story of a battle for Yanacocha, the world's richest gold mine. Bergman reveals political intrigue including attempts to influence Peru's Supreme Court to rule in favor of an American company, focusing on Peruvian spymaster Vladimiro Montesinos. The program investigates Newmont Mining of Denver, Colorado, and meets the crusading priest who leads local campesinos who have opposed expansion of the mine after a toxic mercury spill. Second segment. Ukraine : a murder in Kyiv (30 min.). Georgy Gongadze was a crusading journalist whose death in Sept. 2000 helped spark the Orange Revolution. A year earlier, on national television, he dared to confront then President Leonid Kuchma for failing to investigate an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate. Kuchma, an authoritarian ruler, was not used to being challenged in public. But Gongadze was fearless and kept after Kuchma and his cronies -- until the night he vanished. But today, despite new president Yevtushenko's pledge, Gongadze's murder remains curiously unsolved. DVD 4047

Gabriel García Márquez La magia de lo real. 1981. (57 min.). Film essay on the works of García Márquez and the source of his characters, the people of Colombia. Includes an interview with the author. DVD 5967 and VHS 1084

A gente luta mas come fruta We struggle but we eat fruit. 2006. (39 min.). Ashaninka videomakers create a loving portrait of their own community, located in Acre, near the border with Peru. The people organized to preserve a sustainable way of life on their forest lands, threatened by logging. Their efforts were recognized in 2007 with the Chico Mendes Prize for the Environment. DVD 5602

The girl's celebration A festa da moça. 1987. (18 min.). This video is about the history of the Nambiquara people and their use of video as a tool in cultural preservation. In this documentary, the Nambiquara tape a dance performance and compare it to performances of the same dance by other clans. When they watch the tape, the Nambiquara realize that they look very occidental and feel that they are losing their identity. They decide to re-tape the same dance, wearing more traditional clothing. DVD 5232

Ilé aiyé The house of life. 1989. (51 min.). David Byrne's breathtaking, impressionistic documentary on Candomble, the African spirit cult of the Bahia region of Brazil, that explores the influences on daily life and culture of the people of Brazil through music, art, religion, food and more. DVD 4101

In nome di una rosa =. 2006. (39 min.). Exposé on the Ecuadorian rose industry. While some companies have been certified by the international Flower Label Program (FLP), there are many others that are yet to comply with ecological and sanitary standards. Employees of non-certified companies are grossly underpaid and often insufficiently protected from harmful pesticides. Despite laborers' efforts, attempts to unionize has led to mass dismissals. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 2316

The judge and the general. 2008. (83 min.). "In 1998, judge Juan Guzman, a longtime Pinochet supporter, was assigned to prosecute the ex-Chilean dictator for human rights crimes. This engrossing documentary follows the twists and turns of this landmark case, one that influenced the application of human rights law around the world"--Container. DVD 4929

Machuca. 2004. (116 min.). In 1973, the Chilean military, under the direction of General Augusto Pinochet and backed by the CIA, overthrew the shaky socialist government of democratically elected President Salvador Allende. The coup led to the murder of 3,000 leftist Allende supporters and the detention of an estimated 250,000 political prisoners. Set against the background of the political instability that led to the crisis, Andrés Wood's Machuca is the moving story of the friendship between two boys from different sides of the social spectrum. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 2932

Madame Satã. 2002. (105 + 28 min.). Born to slaves in Northern Brazil and sold at the age of 7 by his mother for the price of a mule, João Francisco dos Santos battled all stereotypes on the mean streets of Lapa, Rio de Janeíro. Jailed for 27 of his 76 years, dos Santos was an explosive figure prone to excessive bouts of violence and moments of extreme tenderness the next. His world was filled with violence and raw desire, while desperate dreams spring from poverty and squalor. João Francisco dos Santos, also known as Madame Satã, is one of the most famous drag queen of 1930s. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 966

Manda bala Send a bullet. 2007. (85 min.). Brazil is known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant culture. However, in recent years, the country has developed more of a reputation for corrupt politicians, kidnapping, and plastic surgery. Artfully connects these seemingly disparate elements and conducts a dazzling, yet harrowing, examination of the tragic domino effect that has reshaped the face of the country and created an entire industry built on corruption. Illustrates how corruption and kidnapping represent two sides of the same violent crime. DVD 4368

Moving forward three women, one goal. 2005. (27 min.). "Microcredit may just be a theory to some, but to three low income women in Cali, Colombia, it has become a source of hope as they work hard to take the stigma out of poverty and provide a better life for their families. 'Moving forward' is a powerful and inspiring tool that portrays the challenges that Luz Marina, Nancy and Consuelo have to face while revealing the impact of microcredit in their lives." --Container. DVD 1290

No se lo digas a nadie Don't tell anyone. 1998. (114 min.). Based on the alleged autobiography of gay Peruvian talk show host Jaime Bayly, this is the story of Joaquin, a troubled youth from a well-to-do family in Peru, who must overcome the domineering influences of his macho, racist father and obsessively religious mother to discover his true sexual nature. HOME USE COLLECTION 782

Organized crime a world history, Volume 2. 2001. (ca. 45 min.). Travels the globe to get an insider's view of some of the most active, dangerous and diabolical criminal syndicates in existence. Each program focuses on a different region, examining the conditions that helped create these groups, talking to law enforcement specialists about how they are being fought, and relating true stories of famous cases. Colombia: the infamous Cartels long dominated crime in this nation, but even their dissolution could not stop the flow of drugs and money. China: see how the "Snake Heads" specialize in human traffic, smuggling people out of China. India: see how India's most famous criminal group was inspired by spirituality, and examine the dark underbelly of "Bollywood.". DVD 6322

Pandemic facing aids. 2003. (113 min.). "Directed by award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy ("American Hollow," "A Boy's Life"), this theatrical version of the HBO series takes us from Uganda to India, Brazil, Thailand, and Russia to reveal five remarkable stories of people who have been touched by AIDS. From James, a seven-year-old Ugandan orphan who is taking care of his little sister Jessica, to Lek, a former sex worker in Thailand, these stories are both heartbreaking and uplifting. Ultimately, Pandemic is a film about hope, not defeat."--Publisher's website. DVD 754

Pirinop My first contact. 2007. (83 min.). Following their "first contact" in 1964, the Ikpeng people were relocated to the great Upper Xingu reserve, where their lives would no longer be threatened by settlers. A viewing of a filmed record of this signal event in their history evokes a stream of memories and provides a rare account of contact from the indigenous point of view. The consequences of contact and resettlement still impact the community, even as the Ikpeng gain more control over their future. DVD 4848

The price of bananas 60 minutes. 2008. (11 min.). Steve Kroft reports, the Colombian government is now talking about extraditing Chiquita executives to Colombia, and investigators in Bogota and on Capitol Hill are looking at other U.S. companies that may have done the same thing. DVD 4920

Que hacer. 1971. (92 min.). This spy story-musical feature is set during the years of the Popular Unity government and the CIA's efforts to overthrow Salvador Allende's socialist government. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 2207

Quilombo. 2004. (114 min.). The title refers to a legendary settlement of runaway slaves in 17th-century Brazil; the film chronicles the settlement's fortunes as leadership passes from a wise ruler to a more militant one who goes to war against the government. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 1511

Quilombo country. 2006. (73 min.). Provides a portrait of rural communities in Brazil that were founded by runaway slaves or begun from abandoned plantations. This type of community is known as a "quilombo," from an Angolan word that means "encampment." As many as 2,000 quilombos exist today. DVD 3124

Regulation of industry. 1998. (29 min.). Examines government promotion and regulation of industry in Korea, Chile, Tanzania, Uganda, and India. DVD 1828

Rodrigo D No futuro. 1989. (91 min.). A shockingly accurate and timely portrayal of the reckless existence of youths in one of the most exciting and dangerous cities in Latin America - Medellín, Colombia, in 1988. Backed with a frenetic punk rock soundtrack, the film centers around Rodrigo, a would-be drummer, and his friends who are trapped in the violence and drugs which define their turbulent lifestyle. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 5918 and VHS 6722

Salvador Allende. 2004. (100 min.). From his childhood in Valparaiso to his suicide following the Pinochet military coup on September 11, 1973, the life and works of chilean president Salvador Allende. DVD 2285

La sierra. 2005. (84 min.). Over the last ten years, more than 35,000 people have been killed in Colombia's civil war. This 40-year-old conflict has moved from the jungles to Medellin and other cities, where gangs allied with either the leftist guerrillas or rightest paramilitaries are engaged in a turf war, with the civilian populace caught in the middle. DVD 1585

Speaking freely. 2008. (52 min.). Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez speaks to the international press corps about socialism and capitalism. DVD 4575

Special circumstances. 2006. (73 min.). "At 16, Héctor Salgado was arrested and tortured by Pinochet's forces. By 20, Héctor was without a country, living in exile in the U.S., the very place whose devastating foreign policies in Chile caused the death and torture of 1,000s of Chileans. The documentary follows Héctor as he returns to Chile almost 30 years later, camera in hand, to confront the perpetrators and his former captors looking for answers and justice. In the process Special circumstances takes an unflinching look at U.S. foreign policy in Latin America in the 1970s and the legacy of Pinochet with which Chile struggles today"--Container. DVD 5690

State of fear. 2005. (94 min.). The Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission's official report chronicles the atrocities of both sides during the twenty year war between Abimael Guzman's revolutionary "Shining path" Indian guerrilla movement and the establishment governments. The Commission presents an alternate lens through which citizens of Peru can evaluate the inequalities their Indian people sought to address and the inevitable ravages modern terrorism brings to everyone. DVD 1523

Stolen childhoods. 2003. (86 min.). "Stolen Childhood is a feature length documentary on child labor. The story is told in the words of laboring children, their parents, and the people working daily to help them. Children share their experiences of exploitation and their hopes for a better life and future ... Filmed in seven countries: Brazil, India, the United States, Mexico, Indonesia, Kenya and Nepal, stolen childhoods examines the cost of child labor to the global community, probes the causes of this complex phenomenon and recommends actions that can be taken to eliminate this gross human rights violation in our lifetime"--Container. DVD 5028

The Take. 2004. (ca. 87 min.). In the wake of Argentina's spectacular economics collapse, Latin America's most prosperous middle class finds itself in a ghost town of abandoned factories and mass unemployment. Explores how Argentina's 2001 economic collapse, where a prosperous middle-class economy was destroyed during 10 years of IMF policies, impacted the lives of ordinary workers. Follows 30 unemployed auto-parts workers, who stage a protest against their bosses and economic globalization by occupying their closed factory and refusing to leave. DVD 1915 and HOME USE COLLECTION VHS 7748

Tango, baile nuestro Tango, our dance. 1987. (70 min.). Documents the history and the unique role of the tango. Shows the beauty of the dance and how it has changed over the years. VHS 3386

Tropa de elite Elite squad. 2008. (115 min.). "Thunderous gun battles and powerhouse performances anchor the groundbreaking story of the BOPE, a SWAT-like team at war with the drug lords of Rio de Janeiro. Racing against time, its hard-driving captain puts a pair of rookies through hell in an effort to shape a worthy successor and clear out a drug-infested slum before his imminent retirement" -- Container. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 6270

Urban solutions from Curitiba, Brazil. 2006. (52 min.). This documentary aims at sharing ideas to provoke environment-friendly and cost-effective changes in cities worldwide. It focuses on innovations in transportation, recycling, social benefits including affordable housing, parks, and the processes that transformed Curitiba into one of the most livable cities in the world. Includes exclusive interviews from Curitiba's mayors, Jaime Lerner and Cassio Tanigushi, as well as others who made Curitiba a world class model. DVD 4466

Veias e vinhos Blood & wine. 2006. (100 min.). A Brazilian family living during the political turmoil during the 1950s and the two decades that followed, from the suicide of the president to the establishment of martial law, tries to find hope in the tragedy of everyday life. HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 6272

Venezuela revolution from the inside out. 2008. (85 min.). "A voyage into Latin America's most exciting experiment of the new millennium, exploring the history and projects of the Bolivarian Revolution through interviews with a range of its participants, from academics to farm workers and those living in the margins of Caracas. This introduction to the "revolución bonita" ("pretty revolution") offers in-depth interviews, unforgettable images and a lively soundtrack that will open new vistas onto this hopeful human project. As he totes his camera on bus and car trips all over Venezuela, director Clifton Ross becomes our tour guide through the Bolivarian Revolution. He sweeps us through its history and takes us to its works-in-progress on the ground. These schools, rural lending banks and cooperatives weave the fabric of Venezuela's 'Socialism of the 21st Century.' They show its failures and successes, its warp and woof. Through it all runs the frayed but unbreakable thread of a people in struggle"--Container. DVD 4256

Who shot my brother? 2005. (95 min.). Documentary film about corruption in Colombia. Filmmaker German Gutierrez attempts to find out who shot his brother Oscar Gutierrez, a political activist in Colombia. DVD 798

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