Grito de piedra
The inhabitants of the village of Potosi in The inhabitants of the village of Potosi in The inhabitants of the village of Potosi in Bolivia predominantly live off the yield from the mines of Cerro Rico (rich hill). For hundreds of years, they’ve been mining minerals like silver and zinc there. Time seems to have stood still in Potosi. No large machines, just a hammer and chisel, headlamps and sticks of dynamite. But Cerro Rico is nearing depletion, so the locals have to find new sources of income. This lyrical documentary with social- economical undertone, not only gives an inside view of the fascinating hardships of the silvermines mines but also of a culture slowly losing its way.
Social Interest
In an observing way GRITO de PIEDRA (SCREAM of the STONE) is a lyrical tale of a culture in distress which centeres around the lives of Gavino and Pedro Montes. Gavino is a miner in the Cerro Rico in Potosi, Bolivia. His son Pedro, a 23 year old student, works as a tourist guide in the same mine. The city of Potosi and its people didn’t evolve much over the last few centuries. Over the last decade however, tourism has discovered Potosi, or better, Potosi has discovered tourism…
Historical Interest
Potosi was founded in 1546 as a mining town, it soon produced fabulous wealth, becoming one of the largest cities in the Americas and the world with a population exceeding 200,000 people. In Spanish there is still a saying, valer un potosi, “to be worth a potosi” (that is, “a fortune”). It is from Potosi that most of the silver shipped through the Spanish mainland came. Indian labour came to die by the thousands, not simply from exposure and brutal labor, but by mercury poisoning due to patio process. After 1800 the silver mines became depleted, making tin the main product. This eventually led to a slow economic decline.
Political Interest
On December 11, 1987 (in Paris, France), the UNESCO declared the city of Potosi a “World Heritage Site” in recognition for its rich history and its wealth of colonial architecture.
Awards
GRITO DI PIEDRA was screened at a number of prestigious filmfestivals around the world, including IDFA, Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival and DocsDF.