JUSTICE MATTERS

Igualada

Director/Producer: Juan Mejía Botero; Producers: Juan Yepes, Sonia Serna, Daniela Alatorre
Colombia, Mexico, USA, 2024
81 minutes, Color
Official website

In Person:
Wednesday, April 24: Director Juan Mejia Botero and Producer Juan Yepes
Friday, April 26: Gimena Sánchez, Director for the Andes, Washington Office on Latin America

At the age of 40, Francia Márquez was elected Colombia's first Black Vice President. In addition to presenting her amazing trajectory from single mother from an impoverished rural area, former domestic worker, and relentless defender of land rights and the environment, the filmmakers had privileged access to her unconventional electoral campaign. The film deftly captured the tension such an audacious endeavor could produce. Proud of her African ancestry, Márquez genuinely identifies with the country's marginalized populations—and they embraced her and the campaign slogan Soy Porque Somos ("I Am Because We Are"). Other sectors and news stories dismissed her as igualada ("uppity nobody"). Márquez was subjected to racist taunts on social media and required constant security due to death threats. As the United States approaches important elections this year, this moving portrait of a fearless grassroots activist turned principled politician will inspire hope about what is possible.—Cornelius Moore

In Spanish with English subtitles