Return to the Andes
(2019, Peru/USA, 50 min)
After living in NYC for 20 years, Nelida returns to her birthplace to help women start businesses — and ends up running for mayor.
After living in New York City for 20 years, Nelida Silva (from Soy Andina) returns again to her Peru birthplace — this time with a dream of helping rural women start businesses. That’s a daunting challenge in the Andes, where many women are marginalized. But few things deter Nelida, and she succeeds in organizing cooperatives around skills like weaving and quinoa. Then the unexpected happens — she’s invited to run for mayor by a new political party. Fed up with the region's decline and corruption, she accepts the challenge. Can she become the first woman to win, running on a platform of sustainable development and anti-corruption?
Reactions
An excellent look into several key issues, including political corruption, women in politics, sustainable development and social justice... recommended as a packed documentary with a beautiful homecoming story that would be a great component within a larger discussion." Complete review
- Educational Media Reviews Online
"Inspiring and insightful... a must-watch for anyone interested in politics, transnational migration, social justice, and women empowerment in the Andes and beyond."
- Serafin M. Coronel-Molina, Director, Center for Latin Am Studies, Indiana U
"Amazing work! Really powerful, incredibly poignant and timely!“
– Emily Thompson, Center for Latin Am Studies, U.C. Berkeley
"A great film about women empowerment, sustainable development and return migration." – Mariella Arredondo, Associate Director, The Equity Project
"A poignant portrait of a woman in politics... a story of feminine power, passion and resilience." – Abi Doukan, professor of Philosophy, Queens College
- Educational Media Reviews Online
"Inspiring and insightful... a must-watch for anyone interested in politics, transnational migration, social justice, and women empowerment in the Andes and beyond."
- Serafin M. Coronel-Molina, Director, Center for Latin Am Studies, Indiana U
"Amazing work! Really powerful, incredibly poignant and timely!“
– Emily Thompson, Center for Latin Am Studies, U.C. Berkeley
"A great film about women empowerment, sustainable development and return migration." – Mariella Arredondo, Associate Director, The Equity Project
"A poignant portrait of a woman in politics... a story of feminine power, passion and resilience." – Abi Doukan, professor of Philosophy, Queens College
Recent screenings
Ohio Latin Americanist Conference (OLAC)
Ohio University, Athens, OH
Newark Public Library: Annual Latino Celebration
Newark Public Library, Newark, NJ
Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
May Sumak Quechua Film Showcase
New York University, New York, NY
Latino & Native American Film Festival
Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT
Society for Latin American Studies (SLAS) Conference
University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Kinomona Global Cinema Series
Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth, TX
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Film Fiesta Series
ID Studio Theater, Bronx, NY
Ohio Latin Americanist Conference (OLAC)
Ohio University, Athens, OH
Newark Public Library: Annual Latino Celebration
Newark Public Library, Newark, NJ
Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
May Sumak Quechua Film Showcase
New York University, New York, NY
Latino & Native American Film Festival
Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT
Society for Latin American Studies (SLAS) Conference
University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Kinomona Global Cinema Series
Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth, TX
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Film Fiesta Series
ID Studio Theater, Bronx, NY