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

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Cataloging

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Keywords
Bila Burba,Panama,documentary,Dules,dulegaya,dulegaya language,Tulenga,first nations,indigenous peoples,theatre plays,Duiren Wagua,gunadules,Gudanule Nation,indigenous peoples,indigenous people,indigenous,native,native people,native peoples,aboriginal people,aboriginal,aborigine,indigene,indigeneity,tribes,tribal,tribal people,tribal peoples,history,context,narrative,past,chronicle,lore,annals,historic,personal history,archive,record,saga,biography,memoir,study,anthropologically,cultural anthropology,forensic anthropology,anthropologist,human nature,physical anthropology,ethnocentric,ethnography,functionalism,cultures,societies,human people,human society,functionalism,globalization,ideology,pragmatism,dogmatism,social change,society,central america,honduras,costa rica,guatemala,belize,el salvador,nicaragua,panama,america central,mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot,central america volcanic arc,centroamérica,panama canal,criminal justice,crime,judiciary,police reform,corrections,criminal law,judicial system,justice department,prosecution,judgement,criminal law,courts and corrections,corrections institutes,dance,performing arts,dramatics,music,musical theatre,musical theater,entertainment,performance,performer,performers,dancer,dancers,dancing,musical,pageantry,scenes,live performance,recorded performance,choreography,movement,choreographer,authority,authoritarianism,dictatorship,military regime,military government,fascism,repression,oppression,political oppression,political repression,far right,far right wing,modern fascism,culture,identity,identity politics,culture wars,left wing,right wing,intersectionality,identity groups,civilization,literacy,humanism,cancel culture,online culture,cultural revolution,cultural diffusion,culture shock,popular culture,pop culture,material culture,cultural capital,cultural assimilation ,human rights,public rights,equal rights,freedom of expression,basic human rights,united nations,activism,human rights activism,human rights council,human rights commission,universal human rights,universal rights,latin american studies,caribbean american studies,island studies,latin american culture,latin american history,latin american politics,caribbean american culture,caribbean american history,caribbean american politics,latin american languages,latin american and caribbean studies,hispanic american studies,hispanic people,hispanic culture,hispanic politics; "Bila Burba"; Pragda Films; "Bila Burba";
Clips
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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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