Monday 21 February at 19:30 Concordia is screening the one-off film 'Colombia in My Arms', about post-peace Colombia between the government and the FARC guerrillas. Will the fragile peace survive the distrust and resentment built up by decades of war? With elections approaching, some politicians hope to profit from stoking tensions even further. Pre- and post-film introductions and after-discussion will be provided by Jan Schaake of Enschede for Peace.
When the Colombian government strikes a peace deal with the largest left-wing guerrilla group FARC in 2016, hope for 'a new Colombia' glimmers. Soon, however, it proves extremely difficult to rise above decades of war and pain.
In a calm and poetic cinematic style, 'Colombia in My Arms' tells the story from different perspectives. The guerrillas in the forests, preparing to disarm and trying to accept that their struggle will henceforth be a political one. The 'old money' elites, who are horrified at the idea of a FARC with power. The political establishment, which cynically exploits social tensions for its own political gain. And the workers in the coca fields, who sum it all up with: ''Chaos starts at the top, not at the bottom.''
Jenni Kivistö is a Finnish documentary film director and has lived and studied in Colombia for seven years. Her short film Älti (Mother, 2017) received the Silver Mikaldi prize at ZINEBI and has screened at major film festivals. Jussi Rastas is a Finnish documentary film director and cinematographer and has lived in South America for several years, both in Colombia, Peru and Chile. In the years before he started filming for 'Colombia in My Arms', Jussi worked as an audiovisual delegate for the Red Cross in conflict and disaster zones in Ukraine, Syria and Africa.
Movies that Matter
Under the name Movies that Matter, Concordia, in cooperation with Enschede for Peace, Visier Oost and the Movies that Matter film festival in The Hague, shows a monthly film evening with a pre- or post-talk. And films on social and societal themes, in particular human rights.
Tickets are available from Colombia in My Arms (concordia.co.uk)
Mon 21 Feb 2022 | 19:30 | Film, documentary
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