Songs that Flood the River
(Cantos que inundan el río)
Germán Arango Rendón | Documentary
2021 | 72 minutes | Colombia
In the community of Pogue, alabados—songs that guide the dead to purgatory—transform into haunting pleas for peace in this mesmerizing tale.
Synopsis
Oneida grew up in a small Afro-Colombian village where she learned to sing alabados, sacred chants that guide the dead on their journey to purgatory. As a child, she witnessed the songs’ power to carry grief and hope, but her life soon became marked by tragedy. After losing her leg to a snake bite and enduring the relentless violence of Colombia’s decades-long conflict, Oneida transformed her pain into artistry. She began composing alabados infused with both personal resilience and a collective yearning for peace.
Today, her voice resonates beyond her community, uniting millions in a country scarred by one of the longest wars in history. In this hypnotic tale, Oneida’s music becomes both a lament and a plea—a call for healing and reconciliation along Colombia’s Pacific coast, where melodies rise like a river, carrying the weight of memory and the hope for a peaceful future.
Reviews
“Mesmerizing and hypnotic, director Germán Arango, together with Oneida, weave a melodious tale marking the scars of her misfortune and that of Colombia’s, to realize a healed future.” – Heather Haynes, Hot Docs
“..a sort of silent visual poetry” – Piers Merchant, The Arkansas Democrat Gazette
“One of two of my favorites…the story keeps a focus on the village community, its creative leaders, and the long struggle for justice.” – Patricia Aufderheide, International Documentay Association
“The film ‘Songs that Flood the River’ (2021) tells in parallel the story of Oneida, ‘alabadora’ from Bojayá, and the reality of the municipality during and after the signing of the Peace Agreements. Interview with director Germán Arango, known as Luckas Perro.” – María Paula Lizarazo, El Espectador
“The formal eeriness ultimately enriches the community’s cultural vibrancy, illustrating how the alabado emanates from a place of strength. People like Oneida channel their considerable pain into a rich artistic tradition that serves to process those emotions and honor those who have passed...” – Vikram Murthi, Roger Ebert.com
Citation
Main credits
Perro, Luckas (film director)
Perro, Luckas (screenwriter)
Vasco, Gustavo (film director)
Vasco, Gustavo (screenwriter)
Muñoz Guzmán, Ana María (film producer)
Orejuela Barco, Ana Oneida (on-screen participant)
Other credits
Cinematography, Liberman Arango Quintero; editing, Gustavo Vasco.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Afro-Latin Studies
Anthropology
Criminal Justice
Culture + Identity
Human Rights
Latin American Studies
South America
Women
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Hot Docs; True/False Film Festival; Camden International Film Festival - Honorable Mention by the Jury; Cinélatino. Rencontres de Toulousse - Best Documentary
DIRECTOR: Germán Arango Rendón
NATIONALITY: Colombia
YEAR: 2021
GENRE: Documentary
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adult
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
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Nuestro canto a la guerra
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Siembra
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Port of Destiny: Peace
Water Steps
Los pasos del agua
Elena
When the Waters Flow as One
Cuando las aguas se juntan
When the Guns Go Silent
El silencio de los fusiles
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