A thoughtful, personal, and level-headed documentary, Guerilla Voices follows a group of FARC-EP fighters who have agreed to lay down their arms and rejoin society. Director Sjoerd van Grootheest creates a beautiful rapport with a number of FARC guerillas who share their stories, their feelings, and their political beliefs with the camera over the course of about two years. From the get-go, the guerrillas are hopeful but cautious.
They repeat the fact that they are meeting their end of the bargain with the government, that they have relocated and ceased military patrols. They are ready to enter into civilian life. The government, however, fails to fulfill its promises time and again: there are no shelters ready when the FARC-EP arrives so they build their own ‘huts’ from saplings and plastic, there are no building materials or tools left behind when the government contracted workers are ordered to leave, and there is little if not no communication with the government to the guerillas.
It is an insightful documentary, enlightening, honest, and beautiful. Guerilla Voices does an outstanding job of capturing the wonder of the landscape and the emotions and beliefs of its subjects. The rich greens of foliage and white mists of mountain fog and clouds make an outstanding backdrop to the study of the lives of these now former fighters. The documentary focuses much more on each individual and their thoughts and words rather than painting with broad strokes and letting the leadership speak for everyone.
The conversations recorded are less about violence and politics, though both come up at times, and much more about personal wants, desires, and beliefs. The personal histories, charming stories, and private hopes each fighter shares are the most intriguing part of this documentary. There are few documentaries that capture the human element of the long-raging civil war in Colombia, and Guerilla Voices is an outstanding exception. This superior documentary is highly recommended for any film collection related to international political issues. Editor’s Choice.
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