Land or Death: Colombia's Indigenous Land Defenders is a short documentary following Celia, a determined grandmother, and leader of an unarmed indigenous civilian force fighting to protect their land amidst Colombia's turbulent post-conflict landscape. After the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC in 2016, hope flickered for an end to the decades-long armed conflict. However, the country soon plunged into chaos as criminal gangs, including ex-FARC members, vied for control in the power vacuum, turning Colombia into one of the world's deadliest places for land rights defenders.
Celia, among the highest-ranking members of her indigenous civilian defense force, grapples not only with the perilous task of safeguarding her community's territory but also with the desire to mend her fractured family relationships. When violence rears its head once more, following the assassination of a close comrade, Celia must rally her unarmed guards against armed adversaries. With unwavering resolve, she declares, "We have to make them understand that the control is ours and the territory is ours."
Directed by award-winning Swedish filmmaker Jesper Klemedsson Sotomayor and Chilean filmmaker Sebastian Peña, Land or Death delves into the heart of Colombia's indigenous resistance, highlighting their courage in the face of overwhelming odds and their unwavering commitment to defending their ancestral lands. Celia and the Indigenous Guard face a major setback after a paramilitary group commits a massacre in Cuaca, targeting the Indigenous Guard there in an act of terror. Even in the face of such atrocity, Celia remains devoted to the cause of non-violence. Utilizing a simple documentary style with only a few comments and questions from the directors, Land or Death is an intimate glimpse into the political, community, and family struggles surrounding non-violent indigenous resistance and governance in modern Colombia. Highly Recommended.
What type of library programming could use this title?
Land or Death could be featured in library programming focused on social justice, human rights, indigenous issues, or Latin American studies. It could be part of film screenings followed by discussions or panel talks addressing these topics.
What kind of film series would this documentary fit in?
This educational documentary would fit well in a series focusing on activism, social movements, or documentaries highlighting indigenous cultures and their struggles around the world.
What type of college/university professors would find this title valuable?
Professors teaching courses on Latin American studies, indigenous studies, social movements, human rights, or political science would find this title valuable for enriching their curriculum and engaging students in discussions about real-world issues.
After the Colombian government and the FARC signed a peace agreement in 2016, there was hope that the five decade-long armed conflict had come to an end, but Colombia has become one of the world’s deadliest places for land rights defenders. Arm criminal gangs, including ex-FARC members, emerged in the power vacuum and fought for control. A tenacious grandmother, Celia, leads an unarmed indigenous civilian force that fights to defend their land. She is one of the highest-ranking members of an indigenous civilian defense force in the dangerous region. Celia longs to rebuild her troubled relationship with her family, but violence has returned to the area. When a close comrade is assassinated, Celia is forced to mobilize her community. It’s an incredibly perilous task, as the Guards are entirely unarmed, but they are resolute and determined not to give in: “We have to make them understand that the control is ours and the territory is ours - that we, as indigenous guards, will always be in this territory.”
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THE FILMMAKERS
Jesper Klemedsson Sotomayor is an award winning Swedish documentary filmmaker and visual storyteller. Working predominantly in Latin America with a special focus on the regions indigenous and social movements, land rights and social struggle. He is founder and member of Recapto – a documentary production company. He has a Master in Photojournalism from the University of Westminster in London.
Sebastian Peña is a documentary filmmaker, originally from Chile, based in Copenhagen. He is educated at Biskops-Arnö, Sweden and Escuela Nordica, Chile. In his work, he focuses on complex political, social and humanitarian issues. Sebastian is the founder of the production company Recapto.
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LAND OR DEATH: COLOMBIA'S INDIGENOUS LAND DEFENDERS
Catalog # EPF16055 ● ISBN: 978-1-933724-95-9 ● UPC: 6-82086-16055-9 1 ● NTSC
26 Minutes ● Copyright 2022 ● Spanish, English Subtitles
Click here to buy DVD: $19.95
Click here to buy DVD w/ Public Performance Rights: $200
Click here to buy DSL and DVD w/ Public Performance Rights: $275
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Larry Rattner - larry@epfmedia.com