Latin American Film Festival screening: Ixcanul

In our current global situation of climate change and environmental catastrophe, many environmental humanities scholars are turning to indigenous ontologies to seek out answers and guidance. The five movies curated for the festival showcase narratives from indigenous communities from several Latin American countries and portray their struggles and strategies of survival. With the festival, we hope to honor their voices by showcasing their work to our Rutgers community. 

The 2023 Latin American Film Festival screening is organized by Mentoring for Social Justice and Community-Building Project participants Ariela Parisi, Rachel Perez, Celín Hidalgo, and Ivy Lopez-Flores.

Questions? Contact Ariela Parisi at aparisi@spanport.rutgers.edu.

 Screening of Ixcanul

March 29, 2023

Voorhees Hall, 105

7:00pm

Reserve your free ticket: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3hiv-dvr6qUR5ym79v_0ThlGF-IEzpRFw3bpQMFVFxTgI2Q/viewform

By Jayro Bustamante

In Kaqchikel and Spanish with English subtitles

GUATEMALA’S OFFICIAL ENTRY TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS®

The brilliant debut by Guatemalan filmmaker Jayro Bustamante is a mesmerizing fusion of fact and fable, a dreamlike depiction of the daily lives of Kaqchikel speaking Mayans on a coffee plantation at the base of an active volcano. Immersing us in its characters’ customs and beliefs, Ixcanul chronicles with unblinking realism, a disappearing tradition and a disappearing people.

Maria, a 17-year-old Mayan girl, lives and works with her parents on a coffee plantation in the foothills of an active volcano in Guatemala.

An arranged marriage awaits her: her parents have promised her to Ignacio, the plantation overseer. But Maria doesn’t sit back and accept her destiny.

Pepe, a young coffee cutter who plans to migrate to the USA becomes her possible way out. Maria seduces Pepe in order to run away with him, but after promises and clandestine meetings, Pepe takes off, leaving her pregnant, alone and in disgrace. There’s no time to lose for Maria’s mother, who thinks abortion is the only solution. Yet despite her mother’s ancestral knowledge, the baby remains, “destined to live.”

But destiny has more in store for Maria: a snakebite forces them to leave immediately in search of a hospital. The modern world Maria has so dreamt about will save her life, but at what price…

Check out the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tblugtW4z4E&t=2s

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This film festival is possible thanks to the sponsorship and collaboration of:  Center for Latino Arts and Culture, Cinema Studies, Center for Latin American Studies (Indigenous Studies Group), Spanish and Portuguese Department, History Department, Rutgers Union of Cuban American Students 

This festival was awarded a grant by PRAGDA

Event Organizers:

Rachel Perez is a junior at the school of Arts and Sciences double majoring in philosophy and Spanish with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. She is a future human rights lawyer and current advocate for women’s rights and the decolonization of latinx communities. Rachel sees herself working with domestic violence victims and child abuse cases. Rachel is an immigrant, a first-gen and ESL student. As a student leader on campus Rachel founded RUCAS, Rutgers Union of Cuban American Students and is currently the mentorship chair of Chi Alpha Epsilon, the EOF National Honor Society. Rachel describes herself as a high-achiever and a community builder and a great dancer too.

Celín Hidalgo is a senior double majoring in Astrophysics and Art History and minoring in Mathematics. She will be graduating from Rutgers University in May 2023. Celín was born in Cuba, the largest island of the Caribbean and came to the United States ten years ago. On campus she is a research assistant (RA) with the Aresty and L.S.A.M.P programs, secretary and founding member of RUCAS (Rutgers Union of Cuban American Students), FIGS Instructor teaching Exploring Art History, and a guide tour for the Collective Yearning Exhibition of the Douglass College.

Ivy Lopez-Flores is a sophomore at the School Of Art and Sciences double majoring in Sociology and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She is a first-gen Mexican American student who is passionate about advocating for the Latinx community and Women’s rights. Ivy hopes to be able to continue her education and hopes to teach higher education or work for a Nonprofit organization. She describes herself as a hard-working and driven student. 

Ariela Parisi is an international PhD Candidate from Argentina. She is completing her dissertation at the Spanish and Portuguese department. Ariela’s research project studies the intersection between Memory Studies and Speculative Fiction in the Southern Cone and Brazil. Ariela is particularly interested in the representation of human rights violations in science fiction, horror stories and movies.