Bolivia is a small developing country with a modest artistic scene. Despite this fact, Bolivian directors have produced an impressive number of interesting films in recent years. National cinema tells the story of the country's culture, people, history and struggles of this complex Andean nation.
A Question of Faith (1995)
Cuestión de fe
Mark Lois's film A Question of Faith was released in 1995. It is considered a classic of Bolivian cinema. The painting tells the story of the life of a sculptor named Domingo, played by one of the country's best actors, Jorge Ortiz. In the story, the gangsters signed a contract with Domingo to make a life-size sculpture of the Virgin Mary and transport it to a religious holiday in a remote village. Domingo's friend steals a truck and they go on a journey together. Equally funny and dramatic, the film explores the themes of friendship, betrayal and religion.
Eternal Rebels (2012)
Insurgentes
Jorge Sanjines' tape is based on historical events. It tells the story of the struggle of the indigenous peoples of Bolivia for their sovereignty, which they lost due to Spanish colonization. In "Eternal Rebels", Bolivian heroes, whose names are absent in official history, are immortalized: the warriors of the Incas, Aymara, Guarani, Quechua and other peoples. Bolivian President Evo Morales, the first Aymara Indian as head of state, plays a significant role in the film.
South Zone (2009)
Zona sur
The film was shot by the country's most prominent director, Juan Carlos Valdivia. The South Zone is dedicated to the end of the era of discrimination in Bolivia. The film follows an upper-class family who lives in the affluent southern region of La Paz. The main character Carola is a self-confident divorced mother of three children. She frivolously disposes of her savings, but saves on payments to servants. Her spoiled children struggle with identity problems. The tension in the house rises to the boiling point. Excellent acting, brilliant camera work and the powerful social message of the South Zone make this film an essential element of Bolivian cinema.
A land without sin (2013)
Yvy marley
One of the last works of the famous director Juan Carlos Valdivia. The action revolves around a filmmaker who travels around Bolivia in search of the wild Guarani Indians. They live in the jungle in the southeast of the country, and have never been in contact with the civilized world before. Valdivia showed the traditions of the indigenous people of South America with great love, noting the depth of their knowledge of nature and the relationship between man and her.
The Day Silence Died (1998)
El día que murió el silencio
The film by Paolo Agazzi is set in the small conservative town of Villa Serena. Abelardo opens the first radio station. Locals have never seen a radio in their life, and they perceive it as a miracle. But there are also those who opposed the innovation of the young entrepreneur. "The Day Silence Died" is considered one of the best films in Bolivia of the 90s. He has won several Latin American Film Awards.
American Visa (2005)
Visa American
One of Juan Valdivia's early films, American Visa is about the dream of many Bolivians - immigration to the United States. To make the American Dream come true, a retired English teacher travels from the countryside to La Paz. He is going to get a United States visa and go to his son. The visa turns out to be more expensive than Mario expected. He comes up with a crazy plan to raise money. At the same time, the man develops a romantic relationship with a stripper who begs him to stay. The main roles were played by Mexican actors Demian Bichir and Keith del Castillo.
Andes do not believe in God (2007)
Los Andes no Creen en Dios
The historical film “The Andes Don't Believe in God” was filmed in the city of Uyuni. The tape takes place in the 1920s. The protagonist is a young, educated writer, Alfonso, who comes from Europe with the dream of getting rich in the mining industry. He falls in love with a mixed-race woman, but is forced to end the relationship due to the racist views of the time. The film is known for its high budget of $ 500,000 by Bolivian standards. The tape was directed by Antonio Egino.
Who killed the white llama? (2007)
Quién mató a la Llamita Blanca?
The comedy by Rodrigo Bellotta tells the story of two married criminals who are trying to smuggle a huge shipment of cocaine across the Brazilian border. The film pokes fun at Bolivian customs, both rural and urban. At the same time, he touches on the serious topics of poverty and economic equality. Disguised as villagers, the two mafiosi shy away from meeting the police as they travel through the beautiful landscapes of Bolivia.
Chukiago (1977)
Chuquiago
Antonio Aegino dedicated his painting to the various social strata of the population in La Paz. In four separate stories, he reveals the depth of social tensions, the contrast between poor and wealthy Bolivians. The title of the film "Chuchiago" is taken from the Aymara language, which long before the arrival of the Spanish colonialists called the surroundings of La Paz this way.
Bitter Sea (1987)
Amargo mar
A film by Antonio Egino, one of the country's largest filmmakers, focuses on the conflict between Bolivia, Peru and Chile. The dispute led to the Pacific War in 1879, which lasted 4 years and deprived Bolivia of access to the ocean.
