Bolivia: Lens on Latin America

Documentary filmmaking has grown to become a widely used method for promoting social justice issues. In order to produce an effective documentary focusing on social justice, it is important to know how the whole documentary making process works. Ismael Saavedra, a documentary filmmaker from Bolivia, understands this concept. Saavedra is the Academic Advisor of SIT Study Abroad’s Bolivia: Lens on Latin America. This study abroad program gives students the opportunity to collaborate with Bolivian film students to produce a documentary on a topic of their choice. Students are encouraged to focus on life and social justice issues within Bolivia. The program includes classes on video production and gives students access to the school’s editing suite. Students are provided with only minimal equipment consisting of a small video camera, laptop, and an external hard drive. This program is helping students to learn their craft and become effective filmmakers. Saavedra says, “I want my students to realize the importance and potential of working with the language of the 21st century and, in doing so, I want them to learn and produce quality and moving short documentaries as a result of their research.” 


I watched three short films produced by these students. The first film I watched was titled “Los Hombres Del Lago” (The Men of the Lake). It focused on a people group who live near Lake Poopó in Bolivia. For thousands of years, these people have relied on the lake to provide them with food and other resources. They ate sea plants and fish and drank water from the lake. They fished the lake to make money to support their community. They lived peacefully until the 1930’s when people from other countries arrived to take advantage of their rich soil and farm their land. In 1970, a mining company moved in and started taking over their land as well. Pollutants from the mine began to seep into the lake and contaminate it. Many of the sea plants and fish died off. The water also became sour and unfit to drink. The native people were left with little resources to survive. They requested help from authorities, but were ignored due to their poverty and lack of education.

This film was very artistically produced. It was shot in black and white and featured beautiful shots of lake scenery such as wildlife, plant life, and water. The documentary was also narrated by the 89-year-old ex-leader of the lake people.

The second film I watched, “Rio Mamore Beni-Bolivia,” focused on the community of Santa Maria Del Pilar. Although this documentary had no narrator, it still managed to effectively get its point across. The film gives the viewer a look into a beautiful native culture. Images of plants, animals, and village life set to native music provide us with a view of a wonderful culture that is threatened by the pressures of westernization.

The third film I watched was titled “Para Comunidad Desde La Comunidad” (For Community From The Community). This film itself was an example of what this program is all about. It focused on a group of indigenous Bolivian filmmakers that produce documentary films to promote their lifestyle and give them a voice within the country. Several different filmmakers explain that the ideals of westernization are starting to creep in and take over Bolivian society. In order to preserve their unique way of life, they use media to reach out and advocate their cause. Producing their own television shows and films helps to give them a voice within politics and culture.

For more information on Bolivia: Lens on Latin America and/or links to these films visit: http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/sss_blv.cfm