Altiplano (film)
Encyclopedia
Altiplano is a film by Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth starring Magaly Solier
, Jasmin Tabatabai
and Olivier Gourmet
. It takes places on three continents in five different languages. It tells the stories of two women in mourning and how their destinies merge.
. Back in Belgium she withdraws the picture after it had already been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
. Her husband Max is an oculist and leaves to work at an eye clinic in the Andes
in Peru. A local mine spills mercury
that causes many people of the nearby village Turubamba to succumb to illness. Max and his fellow physicians suspect toxins to be the reason for the affection. They decide to collect more data in Turubamba.
Meanwhile Saturnina, a young woman from the village loses her fiancé to the contamination. Upon the physicians' arrival Saturnina's mother angrily rejects the doctors' request to examine the body. The villagers turn their rage on the doctors and stone Max to death. Saturnina leads an unsuccessful demonstration against the mine's truck drivers. After its dissolution Saturnina commits suicide by drinking quicksilver and films her death on the camera Max had dropped when he was killed.
Grace sets out on a journey to the place of Max's death. Saturnina's mother welcomes her and offers hospitality. Grace watches the video. In the end she partakes in Saturnina's funeral and finally ends her mourning over her husband.
Although the film is fictional it is inspired by true events that took place in 2000 in the Peruvian village Choropampa
. Furthermore some characters like Saturnina and Max are also based on reports and anecdotes of local villagers and foreign doctors.
Magaly Solier
Magaly Solier Romero is a Peruvian actress and recording artist.She was born in the province of Huanta, in the region of Ayacucho, a region that suffered from the systematic violence of terrorism during the late 80s and early 90s....
, Jasmin Tabatabai
Jasmin Tabatabai
Jasmin Tabatabai is a German-Iranian singer, songwriter and actress.- Life and work :...
and Olivier Gourmet
Olivier Gourmet
Olivier Gourmet is a Belgian actor. He won the Best Actor award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival for his role in Le Fils by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. He also appeared in La Promesse, Rosetta and L'Enfant....
. It takes places on three continents in five different languages. It tells the stories of two women in mourning and how their destinies merge.
Plot summary
The photographer Grace is devastated after she was forced to take a picture of the killing of her guide in IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Back in Belgium she withdraws the picture after it had already been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
. Her husband Max is an oculist and leaves to work at an eye clinic in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
in Peru. A local mine spills mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
that causes many people of the nearby village Turubamba to succumb to illness. Max and his fellow physicians suspect toxins to be the reason for the affection. They decide to collect more data in Turubamba.
Meanwhile Saturnina, a young woman from the village loses her fiancé to the contamination. Upon the physicians' arrival Saturnina's mother angrily rejects the doctors' request to examine the body. The villagers turn their rage on the doctors and stone Max to death. Saturnina leads an unsuccessful demonstration against the mine's truck drivers. After its dissolution Saturnina commits suicide by drinking quicksilver and films her death on the camera Max had dropped when he was killed.
Grace sets out on a journey to the place of Max's death. Saturnina's mother welcomes her and offers hospitality. Grace watches the video. In the end she partakes in Saturnina's funeral and finally ends her mourning over her husband.
Production
Shooting took place on locations in Belgium and Peru for 43 days between June and October 2008. Due to extrem weather conditions at 5.000 m height in the Andes in Peru the crew and cast had access to a medical team 24 hours a day.Although the film is fictional it is inspired by true events that took place in 2000 in the Peruvian village Choropampa
Choropampa District
Choropampa District is one of nineteen districts of the Chota Province, Peru.-References:...
. Furthermore some characters like Saturnina and Max are also based on reports and anecdotes of local villagers and foreign doctors.
Cast
- Magaly SolierMagaly SolierMagaly Solier Romero is a Peruvian actress and recording artist.She was born in the province of Huanta, in the region of Ayacucho, a region that suffered from the systematic violence of terrorism during the late 80s and early 90s....
as Saturnina - Jasmin TabatabaiJasmin TabatabaiJasmin Tabatabai is a German-Iranian singer, songwriter and actress.- Life and work :...
as Grace - Olivier GourmetOlivier GourmetOlivier Gourmet is a Belgian actor. He won the Best Actor award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival for his role in Le Fils by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. He also appeared in La Promesse, Rosetta and L'Enfant....
as Max - Behi Djanati Ataï as Sami
- Edgar Condori as Nilo/Omar
- Sonia Loaiza as mother
- Edgar Quispe as Ignacio
- Norma Martinez as female doctor
- Rodolfo Rodríguez as Raúl
Reception and awards
The film has gained mainly positive response. It has also won a number of independent film awards:- Bangkok International Film FestivalBangkok International Film FestivalThe Bangkok International Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. In addition to film screenings, seminars, gala events and the Golden Kinnaree Awards.-First years:...
2009: Special Golden Kinnaree Award for Environmental Awareness - Festival Film Europeen de VirtonVirtonVirton is the most southerly town in Belgium and the administrative centre of a Walloon municipality and district of the same name, located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg...
2009: Prize of the City Virton - Lucania Film Festival 2010: Best Feature Film
- Festival de Cinema de Avanca 2010: Best Feature Film
- Festival de Cinema de Avanca 2010: Best Actress for Magaly Solier
- International Film Festival TofifestTofifestThe TOFIFEST International Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Toruń, Poland.It is one of the fastest growing film festivals in Poland and the mission of the Festival is to promote independent cinema...
2010: Special Jury Award