DOCUMENTARY SERIES
"Seated on a bench of gold"
Tambogrande
Proud fruit growers in northern Peru defend their
land and vibrant Criollo culture from foreign mining interests.
These determined farmers choose mangoes over gold in an epic tale
of a community that bravely confronts the power and wealth of the
global mining industry; and of ordinary people rising to heroic
deeds in times of great crisis.
The film is being made by the same team that produced Choropampa,
The Price of Gold, about Peruvian mountain villagers poisoned
by a chemical spill from the world’s largest gold mining corporation. Choropampa has won six international awards, participated
in more than 30 international film festivals and been broadcast
on television in the United States, Canada, Argentina and Peru.
Both films highlight the consequences of unregulated mining on
developing nations, but while Choropampa’s story focuses on
a tragic accident, Tambogrande’s heroes achieve an amazing
victory that will inspire audiences around the globe. The main themes
are timeless: the right to land, a clean and safe environment and
an honest living, free from poverty. But we add a modern twist -
the need for corporate responsibility in the cramped quarters of
our shrinking world.
This is a character-based film, blending elements of cinema verite
with humor, music and ironic narration. We have spent five years
filming events in the town’s story and developed bonds of
trust and friendship with the townsfolk. The result is an intimate
portrait of individual men and women who transform over time into
heroic figures.
Tambogrande’s story is also an example of the power of non-violent
resistance. In the beginning, the townsfolk’s anger, frustration
and feelings of helplessness provoke violence. But Tambogrande’s
visionary leaders manage to channel this hostility into an organized
and peaceful campaign using art, street theater and the media to
defeat wealthy and powerful adversaries.
For more information about the case, please download our teacher/activist
guide or CONTACT the film makers: Ernesto_Cabellos
and Stephanie Boyd.
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