In unity there is strength, for the survivors of Hurricane Maria, a category 5 storm which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017. Belizean survivors of hurricanes Earl, Richard, Dean, Iris, Keith, Greta, Beulah, Janet or Hattie will totally relate to the survivors’ resilience, which director Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi has documented in his real-life account: “We Still Here”.
“Awesome! Totally awesome!” These are the only words to describe Chef Sean Kuylen’s sojourn into the deep south of Belize to find the authentic source of each of the ingredients of Belize’s traditional culinary arts for a unique commission.
The full-length feature “HERO: Inspired by The Extraordinary Life And Times Of Mr. Ulric Cross”, director Frances-Anne Solomon’s bio-epic of the life and times of the RAF’s most decorated West Indian airman of WWII, is a must see for any history buff.
Free speech and freedom of the press have been considered basic tenets of democracy from the American Revolution, so when a young White House stenographer Connie overhears a taped conversation of the U.S. president Richard Nixon discussing illegal acts with his staff in 1974, she feels duty bound to blow the whistle.
The name Guatemala may call to mind banana republic and democracy, but the repressive military regime which ruled Guatemala in the 1970’s and 80’s was anything but democratic.
It is against this backdrop that “The Silence of the Mole”, director Anais Taracena’s tale of how journalist Elías Barahona, a.k.a. “The Mole”, infiltrated this secretive regime in the 1970’s to penetrate the wall of silence by working in the office of the murderous psychopath who was the minister in charge of the police.
With Garifuna Settlement Day almost upon us, Belizean Garinagu may find themselves entertained by “Hairouna”, director Akley Olton’s delightful short documentary about a young ‘Carib’ man’s “Who am I” search for his cultural identity among the archipelago of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Prevention is better than cure is Abdul Marin Nuñez’s method in his work as community police – social worker, when he tries to nip the problem of gang crime in the bud. His half-hour documentary is the story of his fight against the gang crisis in Belize, and he targets the source, the young people who may be seduced or pressured into joining a gang.
War is murder, and peace can only be achieved at great cost, for justice must be served. This is director and Oscar winner, Stefan Ruzowitzky’s message in his dark Dostoevsky-like tale of post-World War I Vienna, “Hinterland”.
