When the Mountains Tremble

Twenty years after winning multiple awards for its shocking portrayal of Guatemala's murderous repression of Mayan citizens, When the Mountains Tremble remains a politically alarming and narratively remarkable film. Traveling through the country at great risk of personal harm, filmmakers Pamela Yates, Newton Thomas Sigel, and Peter Kinoy chronicle the brutal violence inflicted on a largely unarmed population attempting to organize a union in order to seek improved working conditions on the nation's vast farmland, nearly all of it owned by American corporations. Yates and company spend as much time with violent soldiers (many of whom have no idea why they are ordered to harass, detain, and torture citizens) as they do with activists and victims of Guatemala's corrupt regime, but the centerpiece of the film is the story of Rigoberta Menchu, a Quiche Indian woman who spearheaded a rebellion following the murder of three family members. Shot at the height of the conflict between Menchu's supporters and the military, When the Mountains Tremble is a bold, insightful look at one woman's (who would go on to win the Nobel Peace Prize) remarkable stand against repression and injustice. DVD extras include commentary by the filmmakers, an introduction by Susan Sarandon, and an epilogue focusing on Guatemala's recent history. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)