This
is a poetic, compelling and beautiful coming-of-age
story of one boy’s struggle for survival
amidst a bloody civil war in Peru during the
1980s. Eleven-year-old Juan (movingly portrayed
by Antonio Callirgos) lives an idyllic childhood
on the shores of Lake Titicaca, until one day
his best friend’s father, the mayor,
is murdered by guerrilla fighters. Juan discovers
that his stepfather, Fermin, is a terrorist
involved in the crime. Fermin arranges for
Juan to be kidnapped and indoctrinated by ‘Shining
Path’ rebels. Juan’s life undergoes
a drastic turn, from innocently chasing sheep
with girlfriend Rosita and playing war with
best friend Pacho, into learning how to make
dirty bombs and shooting rifles under the orders
of frightening ‘comrades’ Carmen
and Wilmer.
During years of communist threat,
it was not unusual for children, often orphaned,
to be recruited by terrorist organisations
that trained them to kill and brainwashed
them into blind obedience to the ‘party’.
Featuring breathtaking cinematography in
the backdrop of the majestic Andes, this
film is a gripping if sometimes harrowing
portrait of child soldiers. Through this
young boy’s eyes we see the violence
and political turmoil of the civil war, but
also the tenderness of the mother and son
relationship, the loyal friendships and the
will to survive.
Former soap-actor Farbrizio Aguilar makes
his feature film debut as writer, director
and producer. SD
