Archive of films Days of Santiago / Días de Santiago

Peru
2004, 83 min

Section: Horizons
Year: 2004

The story of a young man longing to find order and harmony in the chaotic world. Ex-soldier Santiago returns to Lima after years of fighting in nationalist wars. His attempts at fitting back into society are similar to those of someone newly released from prison.

Synopsis

Twenty-three-year-old soldier Santiago Román returns to Lima after spending six years fighting terrorists, the Peruvian drug mafia, and in a nationalist war against Ecuador. He´d now like to settle down and start a family. He belongs to a lost generation obliged to pay for the government´s mistakes. To Santiago, Lima seems unfriendly, chaotic and decaying, lacking in compassion. His family meaningfully reflects this hopeless situation. The war veteran decides to improve the situation so that he, his family and country may lead better lives. He tries to reacclimate himself to civilian life but tormenting memories allow him no peace. As an ex-soldier he is convinced that fighting will bring the desired results. The director commented: "They call wild the river that overflows, but not the fucker who oppresses it. I have had an opportunity to meet the real-life Santiago, a young Peruvian ex-soldier. He made me aware of the terrible indifference of my government and my society towards people who believed in their country."

About the director

Josué Méndez (b. 1976, Lima) graduated from Yale University (1998). He shot three short films based on his own scripts which were screened at various festivals, including Oberhausen, Tampere, Sao Paulo, Huesca and Bilbao: Only Good Friends (Solo buenos amigos, 1997), Dreams and Other Adagios (1998) and Parelisa (1999, Casa de America Award at the Huesca FF for best new director). He has also edited others´ features: Bala perdida (2001, dir. by Aldo Salvini), Páramo (2003) and Con Game (Doble juego, 2004, dir. by Alberto Durant). In addition, he has worked on a number of documentaries, commercials, and theatre and television projects for both Peruvian and foreign producers. Days of Santiago (Días de Santiago, 2004) is his feature debut.

Contacts

Cachoeira Films
Lembergstrasse 52, 72072, Tübingen
Germany
Tel: +49 7071 760 425
Fax: +49 7071 770 156
E-mail: [email protected]

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About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	Horizons

Director:	Josué Méndez
Screenplay:	Josué Méndez
Dir. of Photography:	Juan Durán
Music:	M.J. Laroche
Editor:	Roberto Benavides Espino
Producer:	Enid Campos
Production:	Chullachaki Producciones, koprodukce / co-production: Cachoeira Films, Milcolores Media
Cast:	Pietro Sibille, Milagros Vidal, Marisela Puicón, Alheli Castillo, Lili Urbina
Contact:	Cachoeira Films

Guests

Paulo Roberto de Carvalho

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