The greatest films ever made about Guatemala | Jürg Widmer Probst
The history of film in our country is tied closely to the history of Guatemala itself. In the terrible years of the civil war, we made few films here. But with peace in the 1990s came a recovery.
In this period, filmmakers made some of the greatest films about the Guatemalan people and the life of our beautiful country. Watching Guatemalan cinema is the perfect way to get under the skin of our fascinating nation. Today, cinema has become a medium and an art form that expresses our national identity perfectly.
With that in mind, here are just a few of the greatest films ever made about Guatemala and our people.
El Silencio de Neto (The Silence of Neto) by Luis Argueta
In 1954, a coup backed by the CIA put Carlos Castillo Armas in power. ‘El Silencio de Neto’ by Luis Argueta tells the story of one boy, Neto as he lives through the experience. It is one of the first films to be filmed and produced entirely in our country.
The film beautifully contrasts his dreams of a better future with the harsh reality of his present. The coup directly impacts Neto and his family in various ways and the film explores this difficult time through Neto’s eyes.
The film was shot largely in the old colonial capital of Antigua. To read my guide to this fascinating city, see my post here.
La Casa de Enfrente (The Opposite House), by Casa Comal
If you’re in the mood for a thriller set in Guatemala City, then La Case de Enfrente is the film for you. The film is set in some of the grittier parts of the capital and is an exciting and authentic look at power and corruption.
This 2003 film stars Juliet Cruz, Maurice Echeverría and Juan Pablo Olyslager — and of course the Guatemalan capital itself. Not the most cerebral of films perhaps, but still an entertaining and interesting insight into the darker side of life.
Donde Acaban Los Caminos (Where the Roads End), by Carlos Garcia Agras
Set during Guatemala’s years of dictatorship, this film by Carlos Garcia Agras tells the story of Doctor Zamora. The film follows Zamora as he falls in love with a Mayan girl, and their relationship takes a complicated turn.
Zamora’s idealism as a doctor meets the opposition of the military authorities head on. This is a film that does an excellent job of navigating the complex issues of cultural identity, of politics and of the transcendent nature of love itself.
Lo que Soño Sebastián (What Sebastian Dreamed), by Rodrigo Rey Rosa.
This drama is based on the filmmaker’s own novel. It tells the story of Sebastián, who inherits a slice of our country’s rainforest. Yet far from being an idyllic experience, Sebastián soon finds that the inheritance is a complex one.
This is a film that deals with some pressing issues, that are still current and relevant to Guatemala today. From local politics, the use of our land and environmental concerns, this is an important film.
Ixcanul (Volcano), by Jayro Bustamante
‘Ixcanul’ is the Kaqchikel word for ‘volcano’. Our country has been shaped by the forces of nature over the millennia and this beautiful film is a brilliant expression of life in the shadow of a volcano.
Maria and her family are coffee growers and the film is a stunningly shot tribute to the lives of ordinary Mayan Guatemalans.
The film won a prize at the Berlin International Film Festival and is the first film ever made in the Kaqchikel language. A truly wonderful achievement — especially given that most of the cast aren’t even professional actors.
La Palabra Desenterrada (The Haunted Country), by Mary Ellen Davis
Our final choice was not made by a Guatemalan, but instead by Canadian Mary Ellen Davis. The film is another one that reflects on the impact of the civil war on our country. Importantly, this film is not fiction: it is a hard-hitting documentary film.
It follows two survivors of the civil war — now living in Canada — as they return to their home village in Guatemala. This is by no means an easy film to watch, and it focuses on powerful themes of genocide and war.
But it is an important piece of documentary work that tells a stark, honest story about the impact of war on people’s lives.
Check out my blog for more information.
