51 min, documentary, 2003
In Spanish with English subtitles.
Stories from Acahualinca explores the lives of several women and children forced to scavenge in the garbage dump of la Chureca in Nicaragua. While showing the devastating effects of globalization in a marginalized community, this documentary reveals the courage and determination of these families to survive and to educate their children.
More than 1200 people work at La Chureca daily, about 700 of them are children. Life in this tiny section of the world begins at sunset and sometimes continues until midnight. The most valuable pieces of garbage are bottles, plastic, aluminum, paper, copper.
CREDITS
Directed and produced by: Marta Noemí Bautís.
Consultants: Mario Chamorro, Jacqueline Vargas and Eddie Pérez, Centro Dos Generaciones.
Camera and editing: Marta Noemí Bautís.
Original music: Sarah Plant.
Production assistant: Francisco Chavarria.
AREAS OF INTEREST
Latin American Studies
Environmental Studies
Gender Studies
Media Studies
Sociology
FESTIVALS AND MAIN SCREENINGS
International Human Rights Festival of Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 2003.
Human Rights Festival of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, December 2003.
New Latin American Cinema Festival, Havana, Cuba, December 2003.
San Antonio CineFestival, Mesquite Award: Honorary Mention for Long Documentary, March 2004.
International Video and Photography Festival of La Mancha, Albacete, Spain, May 2004.
LINKS
The Center Dos Generaciones works with the families of La Chureca. Some of the children that work at the dump take music, dancing and theater lessons at the center.