Bila Burba
(Bila Burba)
Duiren Wagua | Documentary
2023 | 70 minutes | Panama, Mexico
The Gunadule people of northern Panama reenact their 1925 uprising to preserve their history and collective identity.
Synopsis
Bila Burba is a powerful documentary that captures the spirit and resilience of the Gunadule people of Panama. The film centers on the annual reenactment of the Dule Revolution, a pivotal uprising in 1925 when the Gunadule fought against the Panamanian government’s efforts to suppress their culture and autonomy. Over three intense days, the Gunadule secured their independence, preserving their traditions and way of life. This historic victory, also known as the San Blas Rebellion, is remembered every year through a community performance involving hundreds of participants.
Director Duiren Wagua, himself a member of the Gunadule indigenous community, brings a unique perspective to the story. He follows the descendants of the original revolutionaries as they reflect on the causes of the uprising and the events that unfolded.
Bila Burba stands as both a tribute to the Gunadule people’s enduring spirit and a call to protect indigenous rights and culture in Panama today.
Reviews
“With doc Bila Burba, the Wagua brothers hope to inspire Panama's Indigenous filmmakers to tell their own stories.” – Variety
“The film uses the reenactment as a lens to present Guna history to a broader audience, incorporating archival footage and community interviews, interspersed with imagery of the Guna archipelago. It pays homage to the revolutionary leaders as well as to the cultural and political resilience of the Guna.” – Jasper Vanhaelemeesch, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Citation
Coming soon.
Cataloging
A MARC record for this title is not available yet.
Pragda subjects
Anthropology
Central America
Criminal Justice
Culture + Identity
Dance + Performing Arts
Fascism + Repression
History
Human Rights
Indigenous Peoples
Latin American Studies
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
LASA Film Festival - Award of Merit in Film; IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam; Panama International Film Festival; Segal Film Festival
DIRECTOR: Duiren Wagua
NATIONALITY: Panama, Mexico
YEAR: 2023
GENRE: Documentary
LANGUAGE: Spanish; Indigenous languages; Other languages
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adult
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
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