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| 2pm |
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Ama: In the Memory of Time
Directors: Daniel Flores Y Ascencio
Documentary. 2002. El Salvador. 63 min. Spanish, subtitled.
Filmmaker in attendance. |
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The documentary narrates the life of José Feliciano Ama,
spiritual grandmaster, leader and chief of the Izalcos, a Nahua-Pipil
Nation and his family, survivors of a 1932 genocide in western
El Salvador.
This is the personal quest of Don Juan Ama to clear his uncle’s
name and to restore his family and tribal dignity, by claiming
their traditional ways, beliefs, as well as their relationship
to the land, in a country struggling with development and democracy.
To enter Don Juan’s world is undoubtedly a direct access
to the pre-Colombian world of the Americas today; it allows us
to appreciate today’s life among the Nahua-Pipil of Izalco
and the erudition of the indigenous thinking and tenacity upon
imposition and repressive forms of terror.
A Q & A with director Daniel Flores will follow the screening.
Presented by The Latino Museum
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| 3:30pm |
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The Veil of Berta (US Premiere)
Director: Esteban Larrain
Documentary. 2004. Chile. 73 min. Spanish, subtitled. |
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In the mountains in the south of Chile, the multinational enterprise
Endesa is developing the "Ralco" project, building a
gigantic dam that will stop the flow of the Bio-Bio River, and
flood the land where the native Pehuenche community, Ralco Lepoy
have lived for centuries.
In spite of the public support of the Chilean government, the
company is opposed from the start by the strong resistance of
a small group of elderly Pehuenche women. After years of actively
resisting the project, by 2002 these are the only families that
the company has failed to evict.
The Veil of Berta is a delicate narration of the story of one
of these women, Berta Quintremán, who at the age of 88
leads the last group opposing the construction of the dam. A woman
with a strong personality and a unique blend of humor and energy,
Berta lives alone on her small piece of land, and observes all
the traditions of her people. On a daily basis, she greets the
trees and the sun, takes mate (a typical herbal tea) with her
dead and says her prayers. But at the same time she confronts
the authorities of Endesa and the government, manages to halt
the machinery and works together with other families to prevent
the flooding of their land.
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| 5pm |
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Bhopal: The Search for Justice
(LA Premiere)
Directors: Lindalee Tracey & Peter Raymont
Documentary. 2004. Canada. 52 min. English.
Filmmaker in attendance. |
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On December 2, 1984, the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal,
India leaked poisonous methyl isocyanate gas killing 15,000 men,
women and children. Bhopal was and remains the world's worst chemical
industry disaster.
Twenty years later, survivors are being re-victimized by the
deliberate thwarting of scientific and medical studies concerning
the damage. Exploring charges of corruption and greed, Bhopal:
The Search for Justice follows Raajkumar Keswani, a local journalist
whose prediction of the Union Carbide leak proved prophetic.
Keswani documents the legacy, the continued pollution of drinking
water sources, “gas widows” trying to survive on inadequate
settlements, and the possibility that the second and third generation
of children are growing up with genetic abnormalities that some
claim are caused by the gas.
A Q&A with director Peter Raymont will follow the screening.
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| 6:30pm |
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Little Peace of Mine (West Coast
Premiere)
Director: Eyal Avneri
Documentary. 2004. Israel. 56 min. Arabic, Hebrew and English, subtitled. |
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After witnessing a terror attack, Nadav, twelve years old, decides
that grown ups can no longer be trusted and it's up to him to
bring peace to the region.
He announces the formation of a new movement, “Peace for
the Future,” consisting entirely of children. This film
spends nearly two years (2002-2004) following Nadav, a charismatic
natural born leader and his new friends, Israelis and Palestinians
living in West and East Jerusalem.
Reality, however, is harsher than any dream... Can this next
generation’s good will prevail? An encounter with the children's
political “adventure” offers a new perspective on
an all-too-familiar reality, and a glimpse of the emotional world
these children are forced to deal with in the shadow of fear.
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Little Peace of Mine is preceded by:
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The Day the Buffalo Escaped (US
Premiere)
Director: Madevi Dailly
Animation. 2004. United Kingdom. 5 min. English. |
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The Day the Buffalo Escaped tells the story of a spirited
young Cambodian girl and her imaginary pet water buffalo on the
day the Khmer Rouge arrive at her village.
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| 8pm |
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Seoul Train
Directors: Jim Butterworth, Aaron Lubarsky, & Lisa Sleeth
Documentary. 2004. USA. 54 min. Korean, subtitled. |
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With its riveting footage of a secretive “underground railroad,”
Seoul Train is a gripping documentary exposé into
the life and death of North Koreans as they try to escape their
homeland and China.
Seoul Train also delves into the complex geopolitics
behind this growing and potentially explosive humanitarian crisis.
By combining verité footage, personal stories and interviews
with experts and government officials, Seoul Train depicts
the flouting of international laws by major countries, the inaction
and bureaucracy of the United Nations, and the heroics of activists
that put themselves in harm’s way to save the refugees.
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Seoul Train is preceded by:
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Singapore Rebel (World
Premiere)
Director: Martyn See Tong Ming
Documentary. 2005. Singapore. 26 min. English. |
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The film has just been withdrawn from the Singapore International
Film Festival because of government censorship. We are proud to
host the World Premiere and to support freedom of expression for
artists worldwide.
Often cited as the economic miracle of the Far East, Singapore
looks every bit like the paragon of the rich Asian nation. Beneath
its gleaming façade, however, lies a citizenry that has
been governed by the same political party for 46 years.
No act inspires more fear and foreboding in Singaporean society
than an open confrontation with its government. Yet, one citizen
has taken it upon himself to do just that. Singapore Rebel
chronicles the tribulations of opposition activist Dr. Chee Soon
Juan from his initial overcoming of fear to his acts of civil
disobedience.
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