500 Years

2017 | USA | NR | 105 min.

Showings

Milliken at the Dennos Museum Wed, Jul 26, 2017 12:00 PM
Old Town Playhouse Thu, Jul 27, 2017 3:00 PM
Film Info
Section:Documentary
Cinema Salon
Original Title:500 Años
Release Year:2017
Runtime:105 min.
Rating:NR
Production Country:USA
Original Language:Spanish
Subtitles:English
Cast/Crew Info
Director:Pamela Yates
Produced by:Paco de Onis
Cinematography:Melle van Essen
Rene Soza
Editing By:Peter Kinoy
Cast:Irma Alicia Velàsquez
NimatujMatilde
Terraza Gallego
Daniel Pascual Hernàndez
Andrea Ixchìu Hernàndez

Description

How could genocide occur in a country without its citizens ever knowing? In this sweeping documentary, filmmaker Pamela Yates gives a powerful new voice to the previously silenced Mayan people of Guatemala, who suffered the slaughter of entire villages in the 1980s under former president Rios Montt. The murders committed by Montt and his army, backed by the Reagan administration, went mostly unnoticed by the Mayans’ fellow countrymen, many of whom still do not believe a genocide ever occurred. Yates juxtaposes moving interviews with Mayan survivors and footage of Montt’s 2013 trial, which culminated in a fierce citizen uprising that flooded the streets of Guatemala with protestors demanding long-overdue justice. “500 Years” is an important and inspiring film that bears witness to the stories and strength of Guatemala’s indigenous people.

PRE-SHOW MUSIC BY
Josh Birdsong (Wed)

SPONSORED BY
Linda & Michael LaBeau (Wed)
Feminine Fans of Film - Laurel, Mary Sue, Patricia & Robbie (Thu)