Helena from Sarayaku

(Helena Sarayaku Manta)
Eriberto Gualinga | Documentary

2022 | 80 minutes | Ecuador

Seventeen-year-old Helena yearns to protect her indigenous community from extractive development and the repercussions of climate change.

Synopsis

Traveling between her life in Finland and her mother’s homeland deep in the rainforests of Ecuador, 17-year-old Helena Gualinga yearns to protect her indigenous community from extractive development and the repercussions of climate change.

Her story highlights the efforts of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku to recognize the Amazon rainforest as a “Kawsak Sacha – Living Jungle”. The “Living Jungle” is both a cultural philosophy and a proposal that states the rainforest is not a resource to be used, but a living entity in need of protection.

With the help of her Sarayaku elders’ wisdom, Helena sets out on a journey to educate the world about the importance of conserving the Amazon rainforest, participating in climate marches and giving speeches about indigenous sovereignty. A story of perseverance and resilience, the film is an ode to indigenous communities striving to preserve their culture as they face consequences of a globalized world and the hastening effects of climate change.

Reviews

"Helena Gualinga is a voice for indigenous communities in the fight against climate change." — Sophie Foggin, Latin America Reports

Citation
Main credits

Gualinga, Eriberto (film director)
Gualinga, Eriberto (screenwriter)
Álvarez, Pocho (screenwriter)
Gualinga, Helena (on-screen participant)

Other credits

Cinematography, Allison Carden Hanes; editing, Pocho Álvarez; music, Nelson García.


Citation
Cataloging
Keywords
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Festivals

Ecuadorian Film Fest in New York; IndiFest Barcelona Indigenous Film Festival; Smithsonian's Mother Tongue Film Festival

DIRECTOR: Eriberto Gualinga

NATIONALITY: Ecuador

YEAR: 2022

GENRE: Documentary

LANGUAGE: Indigenous languages; Other languages; English; Spanish

COLOR / B&W: Color

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School, College, Adult

SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE

AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE

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