Famous 'Bolivia' Shout: What Movie Is This From?

The 2001 Argentine and Dutch drama film 'Bolivia' tells the story of Freddy, a gentle, jobless Bolivian man who travels to Argentina in search of employment as an undocumented worker. In the film, Freddy bears witness to the casual racism of his customers, who regard other South Americans as inferior. The only character who does not display disdain towards Freddy is Rosa, a waitress of Paraguayan-Argentine descent, who is also in the country illegally. Although the film does not feature any instances of a character shouting Bolivia, it does explore themes of racism and immigration in Buenos Aires during a time of economic crisis.

'Bolivia' (2001)

Bolivia (2001) is an Argentine and Dutch drama film directed by Israel Adrián Caetano. It is Caetano's first feature-length film, and the screenplay is based on a story by Romina Lafranchini about her husband. The film is notable for its "gritty" 16mm black-and-white photography by cinematographer Julián Apezteguia.

Bolivia tells the story of its namesake country's people and their struggles. Freddy (Freddy Flores), a gentle and hardworking man, loses his job when Americans burn down the coca fields where he works. With limited opportunities in Bolivia, he is forced to leave his family and travel to Argentina in search of employment as an undocumented worker. He finds work as a grill cook in a seedy café in Buenos Aires, where the owner exploits immigrant labour to secure cheap labour.

In this café, Freddy encounters a cast of characters who impact his life. There's Rosa (Rosa Sánchez), a waitress of Paraguayan-Argentine descent who, like Freddy, is an outsider due to her mixed heritage. Héctor (Héctor Anglada) is a gay travelling salesman from the province of Córdoba. Freddy also encounters a Porteño taxi driver (Oscar Bertea) and one of his buddies.

Throughout the film, Freddy faces casual racism and disdain from Argentine café patrons who look down on Bolivians and Paraguayans due to their ethnicity. The film explores the social strata of Buenos Aires and the intolerance among people of the same social class, who are on the brink of being left out of any class and thus turn on each other.

The film's production was challenging, with discontinuous shooting over three years, often filming on different days and at different times. Despite this, Bolivia premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2001, winning the Best Feature Young Critics Award. It also received positive reviews from critics and currently holds a 100% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

'Dark Skull'

Dark Skull

Dark Skull is a film that takes place in the harsh environment of the Huanuni mines and the streets of an anonymous Bolivian city. The film is set almost entirely in darkness, with scenes above ground at night dissolving into scenes in the mines during the day. The main character, Elder, is introduced in a vice-filled opening, where he is depicted chasing a woman, robbing her, and then retreating to a dark alley to drink and smoke. He is then shown in a hectic nightclub, before being chased by a group of men. This opening sequence establishes Elder's existence in the shadows of the city.

The film then cuts to a search party of men and women in rural Bolivia, who find the dead body of Elder's father. Elder is recalled from the city to live with his grandmother and work in the mines, the same job his father had. Down in the mines, Elder tells his colleagues that the job is only temporary, but it is clear that he has nowhere else to go. The harsh, claustrophobic underground tunnels of the mining complex overwhelm Elder, and he begins to lose himself in the darkness. The camera rotates vertically and horizontally to disorientate the viewer and reflect Elder's state of mind as he gets lost in the abyss.

The film can be interpreted as a story of Elder's degeneration due to working in the mines, or as a depiction of his life already being affected by the harsh conditions of the mines. Later in the film, Elder is shown in the same nightclub from the opening scene, but it is unclear if he is revisiting the club, imagining it, or stuck in a cycle. Dark Skull draws on influences such as Chinese Noir and early Soviet film techniques to create a sense of hopelessness and disorientation.

The film's sequel, El Gran Movimiento, further explores the bleak man-made environments of Bolivia, this time focusing on the oppressive urban environment of La Paz. In the sequel, Elder has left the mines and returned to the city, but his prospects remain bleak as he struggles with a mysterious illness. Dark Skull is a compelling portrayal of the harsh realities of life in Bolivia, reflecting on themes such as colonialism, capitalism, and the impact of oppressive environments on human existence.

'Cuestion de Fe'

Cuestion de Fe (translated as A Matter of Faith) is a fun, easy-going road trip film set in Bolivia. The film follows a drunk artist named Domingo, who is an expert craftsman of Catholic saint statues, using them to barter for alcohol at his local bar. One night, a drug boss from the Yungas region visits the bar and offers Domingo a deal: he will pay him 80 million Bolivianos to make an exact replica of the Virgin featured in a local church and deliver it to his town, several days' drive away, within 12 days. Domingo accepts the offer and embarks on a journey across Bolivia with his friend and a local hustler who offers to drive them.

The film provides an insight into the importance of Catholicism in Bolivia and the treatment of women in the country. While the film features several memorable female characters, including a prostitute and a woman who marries Domingo's friend, they are all portrayed as subordinate to the male characters and are not shown any respect or love.

Cuestion de Fe is a light-hearted and humorous film that takes the audience on a journey across Bolivia with a trio of eccentric characters. It is a great watch for those who enjoy road trip movies and are interested in learning more about Bolivian culture and the role of Catholicism in the country.

The film is available to watch on Vimeo in Spanish, and for those who are not fluent in the language, it may be possible to find a subtitled version.

'El Gran Movimiento'

El Gran Movimiento is a film that captures the hostility of city life in La Paz, Bolivia. It is a sequel to Dark Skull, and sees the return of the character Elder, who has walked for seven days to the city in search of work after the Huanuni mine closes. With nothing available in the city, Elder resumes his pre-miner life as a drifter, wandering the streets with hard liquor and some 'friends'. Now older, he has developed a persistent and worsening cough, the origins of which are unclear.

The film shares stylistic similarities with its predecessor, with both films focusing on unnatural environments and presenting them as incredibly hostile. In El Gran Movimiento, director Kiro Russo starts the film with a long montage of shots that slow-zoom in on city buildings and machinery, accompanied by loud and unnatural mechanical sounds, traffic jams, and construction. This opening sequence emphasizes the hostile nature of the city.

It is not until around the 10-minute mark that we see any human life. The first scene with people depicts protestors from the Huanuni mines clashing with tear gas-throwing police, a living manifestation of the city's hostility.

Elder's only respite from the bleakness of city life comes in the form of offbeat dance scenes and indigenous medicine provided by Max, a hermit who thrives in the picturesque natural environments on the fringes of the city. These scenes hint at different ways of dealing with life in the city: embracing the bleakness, or seeking an anti-colonialist/capitalist return to nature and spirituality.

Overall, El Gran Movimiento is a subtle anti-capitalist call for a return to nature and spirituality, presenting yet another bleakly brilliant construction of Bolivian life.

'Even the Rain'

The film crew unexpectedly finds themselves in a moral crisis when they arrive in Cochabamba, Bolivia, during the intensifying Cochabamba Water War. Their key indigenous actor, Daniel (Juan Carlos Aduviri), becomes increasingly involved in the protests against the privatisation of the water supply. Daniel's involvement in the demonstrations creates tension between him and Costa, who observes his revolutionary activities and becomes uneasy about Sebastián's decision to cast him.

As the crew begins to wrap up filming, the protests in the streets escalate, with the exasperation of the natives intensifying as they fight for their rights to water. Daniel continues to lead the efforts, despite being beaten by the police and offered a bribe by Costa to stay silent. Sebastián experiences moral conflict as he doubts the likelihood of the film's completion, but is reassured by Costa, who bribes the police for Daniel's temporary release to film a key scene.

The film received nominations and awards internationally, including an Ariel Award for Best Ibero-American Film and three Goya Awards. It was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards. 'Even the Rain' received generally positive reviews, with an approval rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 69 out of 100 on Metacritic.

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