Original subtitles

Five million girls under the age of 15 are forced into marriage every year.

About 70 000 die giving childbirth.

The United Nations declares that indigenous peoples are equal to all other peoples...

...While recognizing the right of all peoples to be different.

To consider themselves diffferent and to be respected as such.

Defenders of life

Esmeralda!

Esmeralda!

What is this?

Grandma, grandma!

Come here! Quickly!

Feb!

Feb.

Feb, come on, let's go!

Five more minutes, Mom.

No, no, let's go.

Please!

No, I wanna be there before dark.

I have to work tomorrow.

Come on.

Mom!

Look, Feb, so beautiful.

Looks like Minecraft.

Oh, come on, Feb.

I don't get it.

You see me once a year.

Why can't we just stay at the beach?

You know, spend some mom/son quality time together.

Look, I have to work.

I love my work.

I am passionate about my research

and about the indigenous people.

And that's something I want you to understand

about me, okay?

Whatever.

Merry Christmas, Costa Rica!

We, who are sinners...

Hay dude, what's up?

Pura vida, men!

Vacation, vacation, I need one, but a good one.

Goal!

Indigenous Reservation Casona.

No results found...

How strange!

We're never gonna find it, Mom.

But I have a secret weapon.

You'll see.

Hello, Doña Carmen?

Hallo, how are you?

It's Pamela Salazar talking,

the woman from the anthropology department at the University of Costa Rica.

Do you remember me?

Yes.

...we met at an art axhibition you did.

I am on my way to La Casona...

...to carry out the investigation I told you about.

I'd like to know if I could stay at your place.

From a month?

Yes.

I'm coming with my son.

Okay.

Oh and another thing...

How do I get there?

Uh-huh.

There is statue?

Ah, okay.

Well, thank you very much.

Doña Carmen!

Hello, how are you?

Good, thanks Pamela.

This is my son Feb.

Feb, this is Doña Carmen.

She is the community leader.

We are going to stay at her house.

Hello.

Nice to meet you?!

Nice to meet you!

Shall we go?

Let's go.

It's okay, go, you'll be fine.

This is my house.

How lovely,

what a lovely place.

This is your room.

Perfect.

Thank you so much Doña Carmen.

You are welcome.

Ah hum, there we are,

time to start the adventure!

I'll take you down!

What's wrong with you?

Was God drunk when He created you?

You wanna play, huh?

You wanna play?

God, you're so ugly, it burns my eyes!

You wanna fight?

Come on!

Come fight me, come fight me,

come fight me!

Agh!

Ah, that hurt.

Thank you.

Like I'm gonna eat it.

A long time ago, I walked this path with my mother.

Learn with me as your mother did for her Mogön.

Let's have a look...

Here all you see can be used.

I am going to teach you.

This is like a rope, to tie lots of things.

This is how food can be tied, with leaves.

So the food won't come out.

Can I do it?

Do it...

That's nice.

These leaves are specil to wrap the food...

...I use there for painting and their fruit to make handicraft...

This plant is for coloring the thread in yellow...

...and to make chácaras.

When you break it the natural coloring comes out.

This cacao fruit is sacred for our people.

We are going to use it during your ceremony.

Seat down here. Because I need to tell you...

...about this site of my ancestors.

They used to go hunting for 4 days.

And then they were coming here to smoke the meat.

4 days because God created the world in 4 days.

So we kept you in your room for 4 days.

Today you can walk our of the house.

In this forest, you'll always find everything you need.

One day, I'll be gone and you will do it yourself.

You must know how to do it yourself.

That's how my grandfathers did it.

When hard times come,

You will need to listen to the forest.

How did you discover these petroglyphs?

This was discovered when I bought the land and started to work here

cutting grass for agriculture and...

And what do you think it means?

The circles have a lot to do with the stars.

This has something to do with the 3 Marias,

the constellatations, the stars that illuminate the sunset,

the 3 Marias,

one, two, three...

I have a question regarding the circles...

Becaus in other places, I have read that this type of

design can be...

identified also as snakes

or as the uterus of the woman

in a sort of symbolism of fertility.

A snake, yes, it could be so,

but it has to have always another type of design.

And the circles also meant time and space.

How beautiful!

This is where young girls are coming for Mogön.

This place is traditional and very important.

I brought you before these ladies so they help me with your Mogön.

They will pour water on you.

But don't worry. You are brave.

If the girl doesn't obey, I will pull her ears really hard.

You must obey you grandmother!

No fiancé until you are 20 yo.

You need to sweep and take care of your family.

We're going to pour water on you 4 times.

You are a woman now.

It's the second time she does not reply.

What are we going to do with her?

Pull up her ears!

She does not feel the pain!

Why doesn't she want?

In the past, we used matate bark.

To keep clean.

This comes from insects, mixed with bee wax.

This is what we used in ancient times to look pretty.

Kattia!

My baby!

A long time ago we just used fingers to paint,

this is how our cacique was doing it.

When I was young, I also used to wear makeup.

The understanding of the sculptuaral tradition,

which refers to the topics of origin,

cosmovision and evironment of the Ngöbes of Costa Pica...

I thought you wanted to help them.

I am.

I'm helping them by writing about their culture.

Okay.

What?

- Why? - Nothing.

I just don't see how this could help them.

Why are you constantly trying to undermine my work?

You're just like your father.

Whatever.

Can I go home now?

Yeah.

Do you know where the house of Doña Carmen is?

Please tell me, where is the house of Doña Carmen?

You are funny... the house is close-by, over there...

Who are you?

Can I help you?

Yes, uh... I am looking for Doña Carmen's house.

Yes, over there.

Can you come and show me?

Yes.

Ok, thank you.

And, what's your name?

Feb and what about you?

Diego.

How do you know Doña Cameron?

I stay whith my mother at her house.

Do you know the mean dog from up there?

Yes.

Did it already bit you?

Yes.

Thank you.

You want to come along?

Why?

I'm going to wash my hands before eating.

This food is sacred for the 4 godmothers of Mogön.

Boy, you want to dance?

Uh, no, thank you.

And who is she?

My granddaughter.

What's her name?

Esmeralda.

Okay.

I came here cause I want your granddaughter as my wife.

If she says yes, I'll bring you lots of things.

I am a good hunter, fisher, hard worker, singer,

and I am very brave.

I can take good care of her, dress her, feed her.

And I balsería very well.

The girl is young but I want her for ne and for no one else.

I came to ask for her hand twice already.

I want the answer now.

Go talk to her. You won't find such a nice guy as me.

Let me think about it.

You seem fine cause you have everything.

I'll ask her and bring you the reply.

Good. Just go now...

Bad woman!

You're lying to me!

Who is this man?

The is no one else. I love only you...

No, I don't believe you!

I am going to kill you!

I am going to kill you!

I am going to kill you!

I am going to kill you!

I am going to kill you!

Esmeralda my baby is gone...

My baby is gone...

Hello!

Sulia!

Esmeralda.

Esmeralda.

Esmeralda.

Esmeralda, bring me your homework!

How is it going with your homework?

Well.

Esmeralda says that everything is fine.

Since I don't know how to read or write...

Everything is wrong!

Is it wrong?

Hum hum...

Is it true that it's wrong?

That's a lie!

And can't you help Esmeralda?

Why do I have to help her if she calls me sulia?

I never called you cockroach!

But I can explain to you what sulia means.

Yes, cockroach.

Cockroach because they come to the house,

one, two, three.

Then they multiply fast...

That's why we call sulia the people who come from outside.

And also they are white

But the cockroach is a bug.

I am a person.

I am a cockroach, more...

The black ones are stronger,

the white ones are more tender.

So we are all equal,

we are a family at home...

That's why I'd like you to help me...

Okay.

Six by six?

I don't know.

Thirty-six.

Nine by seven?

I don't know.

Okay.

Okay.

Don't do it for her,

explain it to her!

Uh... Alright...

Six by six it's like

six plus six plus six plus six plus six plus six plus six

plus six plus six plus six...

I'm going to show you.

Shall we go?

Can you swim underwater?

Under the water.

Oh, look!

Pizza Hut!

Well, I'm glad I got to show you my office.

That was when I was working with the BriBri then.

And this one...

That's me with the three caciques at a Guna Congress

in Panama.

Wow.

You really work a lot of indigenous.

Well, I think they're misunderstood.

Do you think you understand them?

I try to go beyond the simple description

of their culture and traditions, but...

it's hard.

Sometimes I wonder if they understand themselves.

Well, gotta go back to work.

Why don't you go and see if you like the festival.

Do you love me?

Here grandmother. It came out very good.

Who is this grandma, you and I or mommy and I?

You and I.

Thirty-six.

Yes. Very good.

What are you doing?

What is this?

An "F".

What for?

I'm making a chácara for Fab cause he helped me get good grades.

You don't owe anything to the boy.

There is no need to make things for sulia!

Give it to me...

Mm-mm, no.

Give it to me!

Give it to me!

Let's go!

Let's go!

Let's go I am telling you.

Let's go.

So good to drive when there's no traffic!

Yesterdey everyone got out at 3pm and it was a big mess here.

Doña Carmen.

What's going on?

How are you?

Good, thanks God...

I waited for you all day!

For the entire day. Now I'm here.

Hello, wonderful! Did you bring me the goods?

There I brought you the goods.

Ah, very good! What do you bring?

I bring dolls, chácaras and hats...

Ah, doll. OK, 500.

But I was working on this for 6 days.

And I did it with natural paint.

Is this natural paint?

Yes.

And it took you 6 days to do it?

Yes.

Ah, crap! All right, I'll give you 1000 colones.

No, it has to be more because this is a very complicated work.

The thing is that I cannot sell it very expensive.

1200 colones otherwise we don't have a deal.

Alright.

It look nice but the thing is, I buy what sells.

These colors are very toned down.

I don't know. I would like that next time you bring more lively colors.

Ah, just a moment, one moment.

Hello.

Hay! How are you?

Can you speak a bit of French?

Ah yes.

This is very nice.

Yes.

Is this an "F" written here?

It is an "F".

But that's my name. Indeed, my name's Francois.

That's for me then. You made it for me.

Absolutely.

Incredible.

Yes.

And is it possible to buy it?

Yes, absolutely.

This is for sale.

I am selling all this.

How much does this cost?

5000 colones.

Oh well, I'll take it then.

This is a really good deal.

Wonderful.

I have something here really interesting.

Show me!

This represents a snake.

She uses that on the dresses too.

It's the the ornament which is here on all the...

Yes. She uses that because it means that...

...they will have fertility.

Alright.

Thank you.

Perfect.

Bye bye.

Bye.

Henry,

Can I ask you a little question?

Sure, heve a seat, sit down, of course, let's sit down.

Look, let's make a deal.

As soon as you can, I would like you to make at least...

...a dozen of these chácaras.

With different letters.

If I sell it, I pay you. If not, then I don't pay anything.

Shall I put a price on it?

Alright, I'll give you 100.

100, that's ok.

The Handicraft is nice.

But some of these crafts need to be improved.

What is this? An armadillo, a cusuco?

An armadillo.

An armadillo, a cusuco?

Yes.

Let's see... You can go on the Internet.

You go on the Internet and look for armadillos or cusucos.

Cusuco you won't find it cause it's word for us, right?

So type cusuco.

You download the picture, you cut the drawing

and then draw it again here and then start to paint it.

That would come out nicer, more alike the animal.

But the gringo will buy it at the same price? Or not?

Ah no, he pays a little more.

I have to pay the insurance,

I have to the employee, the municipality,

electricity, water, telephone,

that's why I have to charge enough to pay all the other things.

Ah and I also sell this, which is very nice.

I don't know if you'll buy it from me.

This for sale as well is, look the work she makes.

Oh, this is pretty, ah!

And how much does this cost?

Wow this nice indeed!

And excuse me but well, if you are selling it.

Let's do this I've bought you, let's see...

5000...

Come over next weeek and I'll pay you this.

But do I need to bring more?

Yes, bring it, bring all you got, bring it, bring it.

Doña Carmen, a pleasure.

Thank you.

A pleasure doing business with you.

And with you too. She isn't very happy, is she?

There's one here.

No, got it?

No.

I don't want to go to that man's house because they killed my mom.

We need to go get this kid back

Do you like my house?

Yes, it's alright.

And do you think that it's better than Dona Carmen's?

Uh... No.

Do you want to visit more?

Yes, let's go.

Yes, let's go.

Dad, I'm home.

How are you?

What's your name?

Feb.

Ah, nice to meet you. My name is Alexis Rodriguez.

And who is she?

It's a woman.

It turns out that a long time ago,

nature was friendly and talked to human beings.

The shamans had many powers...

The shaman live in a house like this one

and there came a woman asking him for protection.

She said that from the smallest to the biggest,

no one let her walk in peace.

So the shaman knowing she wasn't a real woman

invites her in for a cup of cocoa and offered her a smoke of pipe.

She smoked the pipe and felt to the floor turned into a snake.

That's when the character half women half snake is born.

Ah, I know your mom.

I was talking to her about my projects...

Do you like it here, uh?

Yes.

You do? Would you like to come over, move over here?

Here I heve cabins,

small but very comfortable, very nice...

I don't know.

Can

Yes, certainly. You can go.

Thank you.

Go away!

I'm coming after my family.

Who are you talking about?

I've lost the boy.

And where is he? Where is he?

Get away from my house!

Get the hell out of here woman!

I did not come here to fight. Don't touch me!

Get out!

I came here after my family, not to fight.

What did you do here? Look like my daughter!

Why are you asking, you don't know?

This is my daughter!

Don't you know the legend, crazy woman?!

Why did you draw my daughter?

Why did you tear it apart? It will bring her misfortune!

Leave her in peace! Don't you ever draw her again!

Why did you tiar it? Now you'll need to pay me for that.

Quick, quick!

Aren't you ashamed to fight against a woman?!

Is this what you want to show to the girl?

You sent my brother to jail and now what?

Go and get this girl out!

Quick!

Out!

This time I won't let it happen!

Stop!

Stop!

Stop!

You need to go look for a healer.

They hit me hard these damned bastards!

I want to kill this man with a stick!

Ah no no no! Don't cut him, don't kill him.

Because it's better... there lives a neighbor healer.

This healer will save you. You'd rather not look for trouble.

This hurts a lot.

But killing is just more probles for you.

So there is a path here, there is Maria.

Who will take care of this girl?

All right, I'm going to take care of her.

Take good care of the girl!

I will look after her really well. Better than ever.

This healer will save you.

Don't kill your enemy.

So I'll stay here looking after the girl.

I am a hard worker. I heve a big of everything.

At my house, I have mango, cacao,

I have yuca, zapote and mango...

You won't be suffering.

Nothing wrong will happen to you,

you'll be eating well, fruits, all natural foods.

I am winning you over

and so that we'll be living well, in good health and nicely.

In order to show you, I'm going to give you some cacao.

I have many different things at home

and you won't be suffering at all.

You will be eating all kinds of fruits

and natural foods.

One does not get sick.

This cockroach is bad because...

...they are our enemies.

We have to marry among ourselves, indigenous with indigenous.

The cockroaches are apart. Let him go away!

Yes.

How do you see the fruit?

Good.

There you go, try it as you walk

Thank you.

You're gonna like it a lot

this fruit

which is natural, for the health.

So tasty!

At home I have a lot more than that.

I have so much that it is even wasted

but there is no one to eat them, right?

The cockroaches always come to win you over with sweets

But these are pure chemicals

and with these one's health won't last for long.

The cockroach should go away,

he should not insist any more,

you'll marry me, and the cockroach will go away.

Paper is made from the bark.

Wow.

Can this be used as toilet paper?

Yes it can.

Stop, stop, cut! What is this?

What is this?

You guys are supposed to be actors right?

I will give lots of meat and shrimps to this girl.

We don't want Spaniards!

He is ready.

Let's see. Congratulations.

Come, come over here, closer.

Dance now birdie, come on dance.

Feb, are you okay, honey?

But what's wrong with you? How could you hit a kid?

Can you walk? Are you okay?

You like the women from America...

We don't like Spaniards! We don't want Spaniards!

He ran away...

The white guy can't take the him from my stick!

- Does this hurt? - A little.

- It's okay, Mom, it's okay. - Yeah?

I'll be right back, okay?

Hi, Dave.

It's me.

Yeah, he's... he's fine.

He's, um, he's asleep right now.

Yeah, I just, um...

I wanted to see if Feb could stay a little longer.

When does school start?

Okay.

Fine, um...

Dave?

How'd you do it?

How did you know you could raise Feb?

We were so young.

I was such a child, and...

I didn't know what I wanted out of life, I...

I didn't know how to be a mom, and...

I still don't know how to be a mom.

But I want to.

I want to be there for him, I...

I have to be there for him.

Yeah, I'm fine, I...

Look, I'll call you when we get back to San Jose, okay?

Okay.

Shall we go shoppiping?

Good afternoon.

Thank you.

Strawberry!

How delicious!

You like it?

Yes.

The other day, I saw you vomiting.

Are you feeling alright?

Yes, yes.

Do you know where the bathroom is?

Yes, it's that way and then to the right.

But, uh...

Just to be sure,

I bought you a test

to check if you are not sick.

You just have to urinate

on this little stick.

Yes of course.

Ready?

Everything's fine.

Hi, sweetie.

Hi, Mom.

Do you know that Grun Grun

tried to attack the chicks,

but the mother protected the chicks

and hit Grun Grun really bad?

That's... that's normal, Feb.

You know, mama chicken will always defend her chicks.

Look, I'm... I'm here with Esmeralda,

and she told me all about your friendship.

You are friends, right?

Mm-hm.

And what kind of games do you play together?

Um, we play at the river.

We make stone statues.

Oh, and we play with animals.

Well, you know, she told me you guys kissed.

What?

Why is she lying all the time?

She's so stupid!

I thought you liked her.

As a friend, but she doesn't like me.

Okay, um, sweetie,

did you have any family planning,

sex education classes at school?

Yes.

From third grade to seventh grade.

What do you think about it?

I don't know.

It's weird.

Yeah.

It's weird, honey.

Okay, just go back to playing with your chickens.

Bye, Mom.

Are we going to la Casona already?

No, not, yet.

Do you know what happened?

Are you well?

Come on in.

Esmeralda, you wait for me here, OK?

Good afternoon.

Hello.

How did it go with the girl?

We were talking a bit about the case and...

Do you have a name? You know who's the rapist?

Yes, we have the information that she gave us.

Who is it?

I cannot give you this data Madam.

At this point, I can't reveal this information to you

cause this is a case which is opening and will be filed.

So this brings about a legal process...

Ok, so what do we do now?

we need to wait that the legal guardian of the girl

comes here and submit the claim here,

so we could proceed with the case.

And continue in alliance with other entities

like the National Board for Childhood...

We need to speak with psychologists.

It's a legal process, Madam.

In fact it's a bit complicated and a bit long,

let's put it that way.

So what the girl told you was of no use?

No, of course it was useful. This is clearly in her declaration.

Here we keep it safely.

We both know that indigenous people handle things differently.

What do I do, what do you with a little 12 years-old girl who was obviously raped

if the grandmother does not want to file a complaint against this man?

Madam, for this we have articles of law.

Here we have an article in criminal law 147, which states:

"parents are responsible for harm caused to minors".

If a parent comes and gives us the data needed to proceed, we can help.

Before that, we can't Madam.

What happens if the grandmother, who is the legal guardian,

does not want to file the complaint?

Because she is a very traditional woman,

she is the community leader.

What are we doing then?

Actually, we can't do anything Madam.

This is the people's problem.

In fact, if they don't come to file a legal complaint,

with statements and withesses, I cannot do anything Madam.

But this is a 12 years-old girl!

Yes I understand that she is a lettle girl.

I have children as well, I understand that.

So you mean you're not going to do anything?

No, we're going to do something.

We are going to take action, Madam.

We are going to do something but at its right pace,

and after they come to file the complaint.

We cannot help you, Madam.

I appreciate your visit and thank you for your help.

Have a good evening.

Thanks to you.

For nothing.

Esmeralda?

Look at me weaving old friend...

What for? Chácaras?

Yes, to make chácaras.

The thread is very nice.

It would make a nice chácara

I'd like to make one with you now, but...

I am coming to talk to you about your granddaughter.

What happened with Esmeralda?

She came to talk to me about a delicate matter.

She is pregnant.

She is afraid and she asked me to tell it to you.

Esmeralda was crying a lot. She does not know what to do.

Who is the father?

The father is Claudio the neighbor.

This is for sure. He confirmed it himself.

She will have this baby. We need to talk wiht the Godmothers from Mogön.

Don't think too much, you can cry, but I'll always be there to help you.

Now I'm leaving.

Doña Carmen, how are you?

Good.

Is Esmeralda around?

Don't you worry about Esmeralda.

She is pregnant.

Did you know?

Yes.

And do you know who the father is?

Yes, the neighbor, Don Claudio.

Doña Carmen, I want you...

...to go with me to the police station...

...to report this abuse.

No. I don't want any more problems.

Esmeralda's dad is already in jail and now with the neighbor...

I don't want.

But Esmeralda is only 12!

How is it possible that a 70 years old man can abuse a 12 years-old girl

and gets away with it?

I had a 12 years-old mother,

I became a mother at as well

and likewise Esmeralda will turn 12 years old...

This is our culture.

I am fighting for this culture.

I already told you not to come to give me more more orders.

Because you are bringing me trouble.

I don't want any more.

Look Doña Carmen, I don't...

I don't want you to get into trouble.

And if you don't want to go to the Polise, OK but...

...perhaps you and I could do something to interrupt this pregnancy,

in order for Esmeraralda not to have this kid.

No, I don't accept this.

Please Doña Carmen, just let me help you!

This doesn't mean helping, you are just hurting me...

I am brave!

Wee!

One heart,

Two hearts,

Three hearts,

Four hearts,

Oh, a snake.

No, no, it's not a snake.

Tons of things there.

Where the river Chi meets the river Kri,

there opens the path to the waterfall of Lost Beauty.

This is our culture.

Yes, of course.

In fact, we can't do anything Madam.

The understanding of the sculptural tradition,

which refers to the topics of origin,

cosmovision and enyironment...

of the Ngöbes of Costa Rica...

Yeah, I thought you wanted to help them.

You wanted to help them.

I am fighting for this culture.

You think you understand them?

We can't take action, we can't help you.

I just don't see how this could help them.

You... them?

Brave men of yesterday,

sons of Abya Yala,

friends of justice,

lovers of freedom,

defenders of life,

come back from beyond.

Your fury spilled over the invader,

as felines before the aggressoor.

Come back innocent beasts,

return human beasts,

Boy, what do you want to do?

Nothing.

Let the memories resuscitate,

let the knowledge revive,

may those return who never die!

Boy, let's go see the neighbor.

Let's talk to the neighbor.

I don't want to.

I hadn't seen one of those cockroaches

in a very long time.

When they came here,

they took everything whithout paying us

They took our gold and our statues.

They took our women and our weapons.

They ate our food, lots of meat

while we were dying of hunger.

At least this cockroach won't come back for a while.

And he won't take my wife away.

God willing, she bears a son...

who will lead our people.

And make cockroaches taste the bitterness of life.

Kattia!.. my baby!

You left me Esmeralda and now she's pregnant. What am I going to do with her?

Where are you to help me?

Kattia!

Where are you to help me?

Grandma!

Grandma!

Esmeralda!

Esmeralda!

Poor thing, you look exhausted. Sit here and talk to me.

Mom!

Brave men of yesterday,

sons of Abya Yala,

friends of justice,

lovers of freedom,

defenders of life....

come back from beyond.

Your fury spilled over the invader,

as felines before the aggressor.

Come back, innocent beasts,

return, human beasts...

Return from beyond.

Let the memories resuscitate...

let the knowledge revive...

may those return who never die!

May those return

who never die.