Customer Reviews

A Place Called Chiapas

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This video is for everyone: hardcore supporters of the Zapatistas and for those who know next to nothing on the struggle. It details the history and cause of the uprising in Chiapas but leaves much out of Marcos' personality. If you'd like to know more of his agenda you'd be better off reading his speeches in the internet. I also liked the way the documentary depicts the culture of those living in Chiapas.

I found this documentary to be essential to my understanding of the indigent peoples' movement for independence and recognition in Chiapas and other parts of Mexico, under the leadership of Subcomandante Marcos. I really think that Nettie Wild did a great job of making this documentary. Although she is a zapatista sympathizer like most of us, she was very brave in showing the other side. There was a part where the rich ranchers told how the Zapatistas had taken their land. However, it was hard to feel bad for them when they were sitting in a very nice parlor with nice clothes, food, and educated manners, and the children, adults, and elderly of Chiapas are accurately pictured as almost naked, starving, homeless, terribly undereducated, etc. Although it is hard to agree with everything Marcos says and does, there is no doubt he is a brave and good human being and this film captures both parts of him - the actor who knows how to play the media just like his readers to get what he wants, as well as the human and indigent rights champion who is fighting for an awesome cause - very well. It contains exclusive interviews with him and many other leaders in the movement, as well as some heart-breaking interviews with the people of Chiapas themselves. It is important to the understanding of the situation in Chiapas, just as much as Marcos' book "Shadows of Tender Fury" and other correspondence by him is. If you want an accurate and moving look at the problems in Chiapas, this film is a must to watch. I recommend finding a library to rent it from as I did or waiting until the price goes down, but if you have the money now it is worth it, because this documentary is invaluable in its originality, source of information, and inspiration.

This film had its technical flaws, which were minimal. But when dealing with films of this nature I believe that what counts most is what message does, in the end, get across. And in this sense I am very comfortable advising anybody who has any idea of the movie's existence to please do yourself and everybody else a favor - SEE IT. Much critical information is to be found about the Zapatista's movement and its significance in a world dominated by corporate interests. It tells the story of a people and a cause which do not exist in most histories. It gives voice to the unheard cries of people living in the margins of main-stream media. Cries which are in very serious danger of being silenced. Any honest and rational person will see it. When I did I was brought into a world I had only encountered in writings: I instantly sided with the Zapatista's cause and i believe you will too.

I saw this movie without previous warning, following the advice of intellectuals' reviews seemingly to the left of US political arena. I can only admire the camera of Netie Wild's. The best part of this documentary is undoubtly the photography, to which Chiapas geography and people contributed generously. Most of the interviews are well-conducted and some just missed the point entirely. In some passages of the film, the title of this review becomes embrassingly obvious. Wild demonstrates why in Latin America many social movements don't often trust pseudo-progressive artists and intellectuals. In her unsuccessful effort to surgically separate the armed movement from the communities, Wild's film becomes amateurish. For instance, she forces the script to describe the Zapatistas as cold-hearted when dealing with the displaced communities from Tila, after attacks from paramilitary groups. In her efforts, she provokes the Zapatistas into turning untrustful of hers. No wonder! Nobody who has been into Zapatistas communities in Chiapas could believe this side of Wild's story. In the end she forces herself into pretending to be an "objective" observer, while in a few parts of the movie you can see she really loses her coolness in front of the camera. In the end, this is a barely accurate vision of Chiapas, told by a typical USian (born in the US, "Americans" are all those born in the Americas) with a mentality of a charity tourist.

Anyone interested in revolution, social inequalities, current events, or Mexican history...PLEASE see this film! It is difficult to come by film footage that tells the true story of goings-on in this troubled region of Mexico, and here we have it all. The viewer recieves cold, and often disturbing, evidence of the oppression of the poor in Chiapas. These are a people that have been terrorized for years, and thanks to Nettie Wild and her amazing crew, some more light has been shed on the situation. As I see it, this is definitely one of the most important movies I've ever seen, and if doesn't arouse some degree of passion in you, I really don't know what will.

This film serves as an excellent presentation in summarizing the Chiapas plight. While it has been criticized, which I don't believe is justified, Wild and team weaves factual events - regardless of your viewpoint - to provide a unique perspective. Chiapas is closer than you think and while Mexico shares in this predicament, it is a real problem as oppressed people eventually gain the courage to say Basta!!!

I was fortunate enough to see this film at the Castro Theater in San Francisco. i highly recommend it because it is not only a facinating look into the life of the Maya in the highlands of Chiapas, but there are very rare interviews with Commandante Marcos. a HUGE THANKS to Nettie Wild for being a woman of great courage and compassion! May Peace be restored to Chiapas.

If you've read the collection of writings in Ya Basta! and followed Marcos's and others writing online, you may find this documentary uninformative and lacking in real detail about the people involved on both sides, and the philosophy of the Zapatistas. Still, the subjects themselves are interesting enough to give A Place Called Chiapas a watch if you're interested in the Zapatista movement.

This is a great documentary! I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in social movements. My only regret is that this documentary is dated. This movie only covers material from the early part of the movement. I would like to see something more recent, say the last five years (2003-2008).

I enjoyed this film and the attempt of the producer to present both sides of this conflict. It is always difficult to present an unbiased view of a conflict, especially when you are a sympathizer of the Zapatistas. For an introduction to this conflict I find myself more educated on the issue and I am glad I watched the film.