3 Belizean Culture-Related Films to Watch
©Heritage Education Network Belize
Film can be an immersive and powerful tool for documenting and making sense of our culture, and in some cases represents a form of intangible cultural heritage in itself. Since its creation, cinema has provided a means of safeguarding and sharing heritage on both individual and collective levels, and has served as an engaging and accessible platform for education.
Below are three Belizean culture and heritage-related films to watch on your next rainy day:
‘My Father Belize’
Overview:
Filmed in Placencia with a Belizean cast and crew, ‘My Father Belize’ explores the complex dynamics of fatherhood, belonging and cultural identity by following the story of Sean Sierra, a Belizean immigrant living in the United States. Upon returning to Belize after the death of his father, Sean embarks on a journey of deep self-discovery as he is confronted by the unresolved issues of his past. Uncovered family drama and rekindled bonds eventually lead Sean to stumble across a secret of his own: a two year old son conceived during his last visit to the country. Realising that his life is more intimately entwined with his homeland and Belizean identity than he had ever previously understood, Sean is forced to choose between taking on an active role in his son’s life and returning to his fiancé in the United States.
Both born to Belizean parents and raised in the United States, director Leon Lozano and writer Ron Sierra use Sean’s story as a means of celebrating and showcasing their own heritage. As Sean transitions from being estranged from his roots to developing a newfound appreciation for all that his homeland has to offer, ‘My Father Belize’ immerses its audience into the richly unique world of culture, beauty, emotion and humanity that make Belize what it is.
Watch on AllBlk TV (free trial)
‘Tecuani and the Duende: The Voice of the Jaguar’
Overview:
Tackling themes of ancestral responsibility, environmentalism and community through the medium of digital animation, ‘Tecuani and the Duende’ is a short film which appeals to audiences of all ages. In it, what begins as an average day in the life of young Tecuani sees her falling headfirst into a world of adventure. Face to face with Tata Duende, the fearsome forest guardian of popular Belizean legend, Tecuani learns of the epic rise and fall of her ancestors. The story is one of greed and deceit, but also one of heroism and redemption. What will become of the king of the jungle, the mighty jaguar, if humankind cannot learn from the past? Can Tecuani be the ‘voice of the jaguar’ that awakens her people once again and changes their fate?
Having worked alongside Belize’s indigenous communities in conservation efforts since 2010, director Lee Mcloughlin first encountered the legend of Tata Duende during patrols with the forest rangers of Ya'axche Conservation Trust. Lee was immediately struck by how the story of Tata Duende resonated with the aims of conservationist groups. Speaking with his housemate, Kevin Mendez from Orange Walk, Lee learned of the role that Tata Duende served as a kind of environmental regulator amongst Mestizo and Yucatec Maya communities throughout Belize. In a skillful merging of traditional and contemporary themes, ‘Tecuani and the Duende’ utilises the effectiveness of popular folklore in addressing and communicating modern environmental challenges. This joining of the past with the present is echoed in the film’s Disney-inspired vibrant animations, made by local talent David Smith.
‘Healthy People, Beautiful Life: Maya Healers of Belize’
Overview:
‘Healthy People, Beautiful Life’ is a documentary which follows the story of the Maya Healers' Association of Belize, a group of Q'eqchi' and Mopan healers based in Belize’s Toledo District. The association itself was established with the intent of promoting traditional healing practices- as well as the broader cultural heritage in which these practices are rooted- and correcting the widespread misunderstandings surrounding their work. Throughout the documentary, healers speak at length of the challenges they face in continuing to serve their communities, such as the environmental destruction and degradation which threatens medicinal plants as well as financial and social pressures.
Made under the direction of the Maya Healers' Association and approved for public release by the group’s leading members, this documentary was filmed in response to the need for dialogue between traditional healers and the wider world. Not only is healing knowledge a crucial part of the heritage of the Maya people, but it also presents a vital repository of medicinal knowledge passed down across the centuries which, with the collaborative efforts of modern doctors, could prove beneficial to society as a whole. As one healer asserts: ‘Healing is for us as a community. This is our custom, left for us by our ancestors. We should not waste it or forget about it.’
The film is in the Q'eqchi' and Mopan languages with English subtitles.
Written by Tia Merotto