Something remains

Narrated from the perspective of several generations of Nicaraguans, Something remains tells the story of the turbulent twenty-two years in their nation’s recent history. The candid testimonies discuss the day the Sandinista revolutionaries took power from the Somoza dictatorship, till the day they were voted out of office in 1990 and the tumultuous years since. Widows, orphans and heroes of war, they are of all ages, a variety of classes, and on both sides of Nicaragua’s civil war.

Historical background

After coming into power in 1936 the Somoza family ruled Nicaragua as a dictatorship till 1979. On July 19th, 1979, the socialist Sandinista revolutionaries took power after a violent civil war and instituted a series of reforms, aimed at creating social economic equality. Unfortunately, due to economic mismanagement, an overconfidence in revolutionary sentiment and a contra-revolution, the reforms never reached their desired potential. In 1990 the FSLN were voted out of office and Nicaragua faced a uncertain future.

Argumentation

A wide variety of perspectives shed light on the 1979 revolution and its aftermath. By minimizing an overtly expressed direction, the documentary seems an honest and sincere observation of the traumatic experiences of a torn apart nation. However, in some instances the filmmakers have included obviously staged scenes, beautifully shot among the wreckage of Nicaragua’s civil war, which highlight the cinematic aesthetics of their documentation over their objectivity. This varied approach makes the film both compelling and visually impressive.

Scenes

Introduction
The introduction expounds on the recent history of Nicaragua. The following testimonies discuss the day the Sandinista revolutionaries overtrew the government of the Somoza family, till the historic elections of 1990 and the tumultuous years since. The opening account by a nurse underlines how during the 1979 revolution many people were conflicting between embracing revolutionary sentiment and supporting the dictatorial government.
Chapter I – Birth
In the opening chapter of the documentary two women tell about the day they gave birth; 19 July 1979, the day Sandinista revolutionaries overthrew the government of the Somoza family. Confronted with the aftermath of the revolution and amidst the atrocities of the subsequent counterrevolution, both children face an uncertain future.
Chapter II – Victory
In this chapter various people give their account of the revolution, its direct aftermath and the failure of economic and social reforms to reach their desired potential. A former officer of the Nicaraguan Air Force comments on the chaotic fighting during the revolution; two daughters of a prominent revolutionary look back on the overconfidence in revolutionary sentiment; and a employee of the Somoza family remains critical about the agricultural reforms and failures of the Sandinista government.
Chapter III – Tear
In this chapter two families on both sides of Nicaragua’s civil war tell how they have been personally affected by the atrocities of the 1979 revolution and the subsequent counterrevolution. The widow and son of a Sandinista soldier explain how they experienced the overthrow of the Somoza government as an appeasement. Conversely, the daughter of a senator in the Somoza government – assassinated by the Sandinistas – experienced the same emotion after the historic 1990 election, when the revolutionaries were voted out of office.
Chapter IV – Desolation
In the early 1990s, an overconfidence in revolutionary sentiment, the failure of many social and economic reforms and the financial costs of the Nicaraguan civil war had left the nation in ruins. In the closing chapter a single parent cobbler, his son (an ex-convict) and a single mother and her son (a police officer) explain how they have been affected by the difficult social and economic circumstances.
Closing credits
Directors: Andrea Ruggeri, Luciano Capelli

Production: Luciano Capelli for Río Nevado Producciones

Co-production: Roberto Calanea