Asheville Film Festival
- Innocent Voices
- Director: Luis Mandoki
Feature Film. 2004. Mexico. 111 min. Spanish, Subtitled.
This film brings to light the terrible plight of child soldiers during the civil war in El Salvador in the 1980s. Innocent Voices is based on the true story of screenwriter Oscar Torres and his experiences growing up during the war. Chava, the eleven-year-old protagonist, becomes man of the house when his father deserts the family to seek a better life. He must take care of his mother and siblings while his village is brutally ripped apart by war. War is a part of Chava’s daily life; he dodges intermittent gunfire to work so his mother can make ends meet. He experiments with first love and remains hopeful against all odds. Chava’s time as an innocent child is dwindling as the army forcefully conscripts local twelve year olds into their ranks. Armed with love for his family and hope for a brighter future, Chava faces the desperate decision of joining the army or the rebels.
- Showings
Saturday, January 21 at 5pm – UNC Asheville: Humanities Lecture Hall