Five indigenous Bolivian women are involved in a unique expedition. As a symbol of liberation and empowerment
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himDora, Lidia, Cecilia, Elena and Liita. Five indigenous Bolivian women in a single expedition: climbing Aconcagua, the highest mountain in America as a symbol of women's liberation and emancipation.
The documentary, Jaime Murciego's debut feature film co-directed by Pablo Iraburu, entitled 'Cholitas' had its world premiere at the BBK Mendi Film Bilbao-Bizkaia International Mountain Film Festival in Spain, where it won the jury prize last December. But he had already won the Alpine Film Festival in Romania and the Mountain Film Festival in Slovenia, for best film.
After a period of hiatus due to the pandemic, the documentary has now resumed its international tour and continues to collect victories.
HolCholitas Film
HolCholitas Film
Cholitas are indigenous women between 25 and 55, used to hard work while their husbands are guides in the Andes. Their image has something fascinating: they climb to the top of the peak wearing traditional clothing. For them, climbing becomes a challenge against the conventions linked to the tribal community. More than climbers, they are courageous women who want to feel free, happy and alive.
"Their adventure will show the world a stimulating way to be a woman, to live tradition and to relate to Mother Nature", reads the synopsis of the documentary.
Dora Magueño, Lidia Huayllas, Cecilia Llusco, Elena Quispe and Liita Gonzales were forced to bow their heads for a lifetime: their place was in the house. The five women are chola, a derogatory term for Aymara 'mestizo' women. And theirs is a story of discrimination.
They worked accompanying their husbands, mountaineers and guides, taking tourists to climb the Bolivian peaks, until one day they asked themselves: "Why not do it ourselves?".
HolCholitas Film
HolCholitas Film
So Cholitas becomes their story by telling the preparations for the adventure, but also the daily life and finally the mountain, that journey to a peak that becomes a symbolic place.
Watch the trailer:
At seven thousand meters high, the five women are far from the schemes and stereotypes. At high altitude the Cholitas use ropes, ice axes and crampons, but over the technical trousers, they wear the “pollera”, a very wide skirt. On their heads, when there is no need for a helmet, they wear the traditional bowler hat that frames their very long braids.
HolCholitas Film
“I hope our celebrity brings more tourism and more work to Bolivia. And that our success will serve all Lebolivian women, indie and otherwise. This country needs women to play a more important role ”.
Font: Cholitas Film
Read also:
- Lorena, the indigenous marathon runner who runs in sandals teaches us never to give up
- Indigenous women who risk their lives to save the Amazon from the oil lobbies
