Exploring Belize: Documentaries To Watch

There are several documentaries that explore the culture, history, and natural environment of Belize. Loving Belize, a documentary series by Rose Robin, offers a comprehensive look at the country, featuring interviews with people from all walks of life and showcasing the beauty and diversity of its landscapes and communities. The series covers a range of topics, including the Guatemalan claim to Belize, the country's education system, and the impact of tourism.

Other notable documentaries include My Father Belize, which delves into themes of fatherhood, cultural identity, and belonging; Tecuani and the Duende: The Voice of the Jaguar, a digitally animated short film that combines ancestral responsibility, environmentalism, and folklore; and Healthy People, Beautiful Life: Maya Healers of Belize, which focuses on the Maya Healers' Association of Belize and their efforts to preserve traditional healing practices.

Additionally, documentaries such as Fahrenheit Belize and El Pilar: Preserving the Maya Legacy highlight the country's historical past, cultural diversity, and ongoing efforts to protect its natural heritage and ancient archaeological sites.

Documentaries about Belizean culture and heritage

Belize, a small Central American country, has a rich cultural heritage stemming from its indigenous peoples, the Maya, and its colonial settlers. Many documentaries explore Belize's history and culture, celebrating its unique identity.

One such documentary is "My Father Belize", which explores the themes of fatherhood, belonging, and cultural identity. The film follows the story of Sean Sierra, a Belizean immigrant in the US, who returns to his homeland after his father's death. As Sean uncovers family secrets and reconnects with his roots, he discovers the deep ties between his life and Belize, forcing him to choose between his old life in the US and embracing his Belizean identity.

"Tecuani and the Duende: The Voice of the Jaguar" is another film that delves into Belizean culture and heritage. This animated short film is based on the popular Belizean legend of Tata Duende, a fearsome forest guardian. The story follows young Tecuani, who embarks on an adventure, learning about her ancestors' rise and fall, and the importance of environmentalism and community.

The documentary "Healthy People, Beautiful Life: Maya Healers of Belize" focuses on the Maya Healers' Association of Belize, a group of Q'eqchi' and Mopan healers. The film highlights their traditional healing practices and the challenges they face, such as environmental threats to medicinal plants and social pressures. It emphasises the importance of preserving their healing knowledge as a crucial part of Maya heritage.

"Loving Belize" is a documentary series by Rose Robin, a freelance journalist and filmmaker. In this series, she explores Belize through interviews with locals, providing insight into the country's culture and traditions. Robin also teaches art and film workshops in the communities she visits, leaving a lasting impact.

Other documentaries like "Fahrenheit Belize", "Moochula", and "2012 The Mayan Word" further showcase Belize's cultural diversity, environmental struggles, and the resilience of its people. These films capture the unique blend of indigenous, African, and colonial influences that shape Belize's heritage and identity.

Documentaries about Belize's Mayan history

Belize is often referred to as the "'Heart of the Maya' and has the highest concentration of Maya sites among all Central American countries. The Maya civilisation in Belize dates back to as early as 1500 BC and reached its peak between 300 and 900 AD.

The Maya's contribution to society and modern-day Belize is significant, from incredibly designed and engineered buildings to the creation of the modern calendar and the development of a written language.

• 'Ancient Maya Metropolis' (PBS): This documentary delves into the sophisticated cities, art and writing of the ancient Maya. It also explores why the Maya abandoned their cities around 750 CE.
• 'Lost World of the Maya': This documentary explores the mysterious world of the ancient Maya, including their colossal stone pyramids, grand cities and mastery of astronomy and mathematics.
• 'The Entire History of the Maya': A deep dive into the ancient history of the Maya, this documentary offers an exploration of the complex and fascinating culture that ruled Central America for centuries.
• 'National Geographic Documentary – The Maya': National Geographic uncovers the secrets of the Maya, a civilisation like no other that emerged in the heart of ancient Central America.
• 'Exploring The Incredible Origins Of Central America': This documentary explores the Maya and Aztec civilisations, considered some of the most advanced ancient cultures. These societies flourished independently in Central America during the 16th and 17th centuries.
• 'The Ancient Mayan City Lost For Thousands Of Years': This documentary takes viewers on a journey through the lost civilisations and forgotten mysteries hidden in our past, including the ancient Mayan city lost for millennia.

Documentaries about Belize's Garifuna people

The Garifuna people are descendants of the Igbo people from modern-day Nigeria, who escaped from shipwrecked slave ships near the island of St. Vincent in 1635. They intermarried with the indigenous Arawak and Carib Indians of the island, creating a new ethnic group. The Garifuna were deported by the British Army from St. Vincent to the island of Roatan, off the coast of Honduras, in 1797. From there, they migrated to the mainland of Central America with Spanish help. In 1823, they arrived in Belize, then known as British Honduras, escaping a civil war in Honduras.

The Garifuna have a rich culture, including music, dance, food, and language. Their music is heavily influenced by Afro-Indian, Hispanic, and English Creole cultures, and features percussion instruments such as drums. Traditional dances include the Hunguhungu, Chumba, and Wanaragua. Their cuisine includes dishes like Hudut (fish and coconut stew) and cassava bread. The Garifuna language is an Arawakan language with French, English, Dutch, African, and Spanish influences.

While I could not find specific documentaries about the Garifuna people, their history and culture are an integral part of Belize's cultural tapestry. Here are some suggestions for documentaries that may cover the Garifuna people of Belize:

• "Belize: The People Behind the Beaches" (2013): This documentary explores the diverse cultures and communities of Belize, including the Garifuna, Maya, Creole, and Mennonite.
• "Garifuna in Peril" (2011): This documentary focuses on the Garifuna communities in Honduras and their struggle to protect their land and cultural heritage. While it primarily focuses on Honduras, it may also touch on the situation of Garifuna communities in neighbouring Belize.
• "The Garifuna Journey" (2015): This documentary follows the journey of a group of Garifuna musicians from Belize as they travel to New York City to perform and connect with their cultural roots.

Documentaries about Belize's diverse nature

Belize is a small Central American country with a diverse range of ecosystems, from pristine rainforests to stunning coral reefs. It is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including over 500 bird species, 150 mammal species, 150 amphibian and reptile species, over 550 fish species, and more than 3,400 plant species.

Unknown Belize

This four-part documentary series, hosted by The European Nature Trust (TENT), explores the fauna, flora, and natural history of Belize. It showcases the country's stunning coral reefs, pristine rainforests, savannahs, and bio-diverse wetlands. The film also highlights the work of conservationists, wildlife campaigners, and sustainable community-based agribusinesses in the country.

Fahrenheit Belize

This film, directed by Belizean filmmaker Edwin Francis Colon, showcases the country's historical past, cultural diversities, unity among the people, and sustainable efforts. It also highlights the threat to the Bladen Nature and Columbia River Forest Reserve, a pristine and beautiful place located in the Toledo District of Southern Belize, from the planned construction of a hydroelectric dam.

El Pilar: Preserving the Maya Legacy

This documentary follows archaeologist Anabel Ford, who discovered the ancient Maya city of El Pilar 30 years ago. It showcases her efforts to map and explore the area, as well as the threats it faces from looting and illegal logging.

A Fisher's Journey

This documentary follows the journey of Dalston Samuel, a fisherman from Antigua, as he travels to Belize and Mexico for a fisher's exchange. It highlights the conservation efforts of artisanal fishers in these countries and their collaboration with scientists to conserve their livelihoods and way of life.

Healthy People, Beautiful Life: Maya Healers of Belize

This documentary follows the story of the Maya Healers' Association of Belize, a group of Q'eqchi' and Mopan healers based in the Toledo District of Belize. It showcases their traditional healing practices and their struggle to preserve their cultural heritage and medicinal knowledge in the face of environmental and social challenges.

These documentaries provide a glimpse into the rich natural diversity of Belize and the efforts of individuals and communities to protect and conserve its unique ecosystems and cultural heritage.

Documentaries about Belize's music scene

Belize's music scene is incredibly diverse, with influences from West Africa, Europe, and indigenous cultures. While there do not appear to be any documentaries that focus solely on Belize's music scene, there are several documentaries that touch on the musical traditions of the country and its people.

The documentary series "Loving Belize" by Rose Robin includes several episodes that feature Belizean music and musicians. Episode 2 of the series includes an interview with Belizean musician, singer, and songwriter 'Bastic', as well as the founder of the BCMG music label, Dale Scott Soberanis. Episode 3 features several up-and-coming musical talents from Belize City, such as Kevin Raeburn Thimas and Tanya Carter, as well as individuals working behind the scenes in the music industry. Episode 6 takes viewers backstage at the Belize Music Awards, with interviews from award-winning artists and organisers. Episode 7 includes a road trip to Punta Gorda, where viewers are introduced to the talented Leela Vernon, who shares the history of Belizean Kriol and talks about her musical family background. Episode 8 features Paul Nabor, an 85-year-old Garifuna musical artist who has travelled the world.

In addition to "Loving Belize", there are a few other documentaries that touch on Belize's music scene. "The Listen Project: The First Five Years" is an ongoing documentary series that showcases intimate and rarely-seen performances from musicians and artists around the globe, including those from Belize. "Healthy People, Beautiful Life: Maya Healers of Belize" is a documentary that follows the Maya Healers' Association of Belize and their efforts to promote traditional healing practices. While not solely focused on music, the documentary does include discussions about the importance of healing knowledge as a part of Maya cultural heritage, which includes musical traditions.

While not a documentary, the website IMDb includes a list of films related to Belize, with brief descriptions of each. One film mentioned is "Teddy: A Tour of the Guide", which tells the story of a tour guide in Belize who finds happiness in simple pleasures, despite a life of poverty and a haunting past. The film may include elements of Belize's music scene, as it mentions the country's "corrupt government".

Frequently asked questions