All language subtitles for Between.Fire.and.Water.2020.1080p.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-ZTR

BETWEEN FIRE AND WATER

First of all, I want to thank my dad,

who has always stood by me
and has been by my side

through thick and thin

and now he is here.

My mom,

who is right over there.

Good old Raúl,
happy Birthday, Bro.

Same to you.

- Cousin, happy Birthday.
- Happy Birthday.

Cool, thank you very much.

Tell him to behave!

Sure. Please behave!

Think about what you'll do,

your work,

be good.

Thanks, Grandma.

Behave well,

it's what I wish for you,

respect your parents
and everyone.

Okay Grandma, thank you.

That's what I wish for you.

Make a wish!
Camilo first.

We make the wish

and Camilo's energy
will blow out the candle.

Okay.

Go!

One, two, three…

Camilo says

that the remedy

has told him to search
for his roots.

It's the Quillasinga
indigenous path,

but he has roots.

This afro feeling of Camilo

has that right spark
that he has to find.

I think that it's his right to do so.

As indigenous people,

we talk about
the Quillasinga awakening

and searching for our origin,
which hasn't been denied to us.

So we have no reason
to deny it to anyone.

I think that's what
he should really argue.

What do you think?

No, It's you who has to say
what we have thought about, Camilo.

Of course...

he is the only person
that will be heard.

I want to hear it from you.

I really don't know what
I am going to say

because I haven't
thought it through.

No...
it's because...

if they won't let me,

I'll have to come up
with something else.

But what are you going to say
to convince them?

Say what you're thinking!

Forget diplomacy,

just say it!

Honestly, I don't know what
I'm going to say tomorrow.

In accordance with our people's customs
at this reservation,

let's declare this session open.

In the name of God, the Holy Virgin Mary,
our Mother Earth, and the spirits

of our Quillasinga land,
Is this session declared open?

It's declared.

In the name of God, the Holy Virgin Mary,
our Mother Earth,

and the spirits

of our Quillasinga land,
Is this session declared open?

It's declared.

-
- Cocha Lagoon, southern Colombia
-

I'm trying to find my origins

and I want to meet my mom.

So I wanted to ask for your permission
as you are the highest authority.

I also wanted to ask
for your thoughts and your advice

on the process that
I am going through.

Well, I believe

it is your desire to look for
your biological family, right?

And that is

part of one's life,

where we come from, right?

It truly is very
respectable for you

to try to find your origins

and for you to fill that void

that's been empty
for a long time.

It is also necessary for you

to fill up your spirit.

The spirituality of the Quillasinga is this,
you look at the Cocha lagoon,

you look at yourself,

here in this place.

That's the spirituality.

Now that you're going to weave
I'll make a smoke offering

to help your good thoughts flow

and so the elders
will come to teach us.

This helps to have
beautiful dreams.

First the elder woman, right?

The Mama.

The Mama is what
we call them,

not the elder woman.

We wish you a bright future

and we'll continue the process.
You want to find your family,

so tomorrow we are going
to the Family Welfare.

Because that's what
you want the most, right?

You know the customs
and traditions of the community,

you know the authorities,

and you've been an
indigenous guard and vigilant.

It's up to you to say,
"I want to be Quillasinga

or I want to be from
my community."

This is the court decision

I couldn't find the resolution so this
is the letter

that they gave us when I asked for it
at the family court.

You still need to get
your birth certificate.

We had been married

for about ten years.

We decided to adopt a child

because we felt alone.
We thought we could not have children.

so that's what we decided.

When we least expected it

and were untroubled,

they called and said,

"There's a child
we'll give you

but for now only
as a foster child."

We weren't sure if you
could stay with us.

We had to wait for a year

to see if the parents
showed up.

We wanted to adopt a girl.

But they said no.
It's like being pregnant,

one has to wait
for whatever comes.

whether it's a girl or a boy

you have to love them.

This is the Family Welfare Institute.

- Good afternoon
- Good afternoon.

I'm here to file
some adoption documents

to search for my origins.

Gladly, hand them over, please.

Should I take them out
or give you everything?

Take them out.
There are other papers.

My hands are sweating.

That's the anxiety.

Feel them.

Will they call me?

Once we give this and your record
to the adoption officer,

she'll call you to come in
and talk to her.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

We are talking about
68 indigenous leaders

that have been killed
by different armed groups,

about 8245 people confined
to their territory

because the war won't let them
leave their reservations,

about 5730 people displaced
due to the armed conflict,

In regions like Nariño,

Cauca, Chocó the illegal
groups' order prevails.

Social organizations

and the indigenous movement

think that their future
is not looking good.

What's today's moon phase?

I haven't checked the calendar.

My mother said that
this is the right week to plant.

It was new moon
on the 17th.

But it's good to plant today

or it'll be late.
A full moon is coming.

We have to plant potatoes
on the last day.

When I'm back,
I'll plant for a while.

- We won't be long down there.
- It's getting late.

What about the crops?

We can do it in one hour.

Later, I won't take
long down there.

Let's do the sowing first,
it'll be fast.

- No.
- It's not that much.

No, I'm going with him, I'll be back.

- So?
- Yes, yes,

I'm leaving!

Now what?

Last time, I came to take
Yagé (Ayahuasca) over there.

- When?
- About two years ago.

A long time ago.

- Three year, I think
- How was it?

I went crazy.

What?

I just went crazy.

I take it often.

So it doesn't do anything to you.

It does have some effect.

It made me see snakes.
What about you?

Tigers.

Talking trees.

No I'm scared to take Yagé

You got scared of drinking.

It's not about fear,

it's about respect.

My boss, a doctor, told me
I shouldn't do Yagé

because it was a hallucinogenic.

A drug.

It's no drug because
it comes from nature.

It's a vine.

How do you want me to take it?

Like that, get the
Cocha lagoon too.

How do I look?

Post it on Facebook.

I'm going to go check
the coffee, okay?

Okay.

- Where should I start?
- What?

Where should I start?

- There.
- From here to there?

Yes...

- Or are you going to plant?
- That too.

That furrow needs to be sown,
there's seeds over there.

Keep planting like that.

- The one right here?
- Yes.

Do you believe in God, Camilo?

What do you believe in?

In the sun and the moon...

in the mountains.

In the water.

Even in the seeds.

Have you ever felt lonely?

In the military.

They killed two fellow soldiers,
that's why I left.

They killed them almost
right in front on me.

How scary!

Just one block away.

- How much do you appreciate life, Camilo?
- What?

How much do you
appreciate being alive?

A lot!

Imagine ending up in a coffin.

With your legs messed up

or losing a hand for
stepping on a landmine.

It's been tough for you.

We had to be careful.

In Samaniego
they found a landmine.

It was placed there for us.

It had rusty nails and screws
taped to it, everything rusty.

You should be grateful to be
alive and back home

Indigenous guard

Camilo,

this is your case.
It was filed in 1996

by the Family Welfare Institute.
We are going to go review it together.

Your case starts on March 12, 1996.
A file is opened,

599 is the case number,
and it begins like this:

María Helena Benavides,
a 37-year-old woman,

comes in with the child Nicolás Bermúdez,
initially without name.

She is asked to state the reason
of her appearance before the Institute.

She replied: "I'm here
to turn in a baby

that a girl left with me
15 days ago,

He was in a poor condition, dirty.

I took him home
to bathe him

and now I have come
to give him to Family Welfare.

I already have 6 children
and can't afford to raise him.

His mother doesn't work

and steals to buy drugs.

She begs for money and had two other
children that she sold. That's all."

The process begins

and publications are made
on the radio and on press.

- Look.
- It's the same picture.

No family member
came to get you,

no one said,
"I'm the child's mother"

And no further information
about the family was presented.

We got the case information
from a third person,

Miss María Helena Bermúdez.

But there is no evidence
of the mother coming here.

We don't even have a name,

only A.K.A. "La Fercha".

If you want, we can try

to find this woman.

Maybe she can give us
more information.

- Yes, sounds good.
- Also, it's the only hint.

Well, I think we should continue.

There's an address, but I don't know
if she still lives there after 22 years.

After taking into
account the situation,

the adoption officer declares
you an abandoned child

and refers you to the adoption committee,

where you are assigned
to Mr. Norberto Javier Jojoa

and Mrs. Martha Lidia Coral.

Thank you, Mama Cocha (Lagoon).

Do we both fit there?

So we can talk a little bit.

Do you want some?

And there is tobacco too.
So we can tell Mama Cocha.

-Rapé (tobacco powder) too?
- Yes.

So we can talk,

so you can talk.

It is our medicine and
Mama Cocha's medicine.

Now you blow it to me, okay?

Okay.

Gently.

Here we are, in front of the Cocha Lagoon,
the island, our mountains,

what can you talk about?

Whatever you want.

Well, I want to continue the right path.

Keep looking.

That's what I want to do.

It's not time to give up yet.

Well said Son, that's it.

I also feel what you feel.

I feel the pain,

the sadness,

but we have to keep going.

-
- Today I wanna sing to you,
-

-
- this sweet chant of the
-

-
- Today I wanna sing to you,
-

-
- this sweet chant of the
-

-
- Let's remain as brother,
-

-
- Let's remain as brothers...
-

Take it easy.

How long since we started this, Camilo?

In June 2016,

while drinking Yagé.
La Perra was there.

- Wasn't Marlon there too?
- I think so.

We talked in the
kitchen for a while.

Do you remember that, Camilo?

Yes, of course.

We decided that we were
going to start a new path,

which was going to
take us on a journey

and we didn't know
what we were going to find.

Yes.

What do you say, Camilo?

With what you know now?

We have found something.

That's good, Bro.

- We found an answer.
- We have answers, you see?

We found something. Now we can go
and ask that woman how things happened.

Bro, that's great progress.

Well done, Camilo!

But it hurt so much.

I can't even imagine, Camilo.

But I feel happy.

The Yagé seems to work.

It is very chaotic,

but very good too.

The bride, bravo!

She is comming!

-
- Let's give thanks to the Lord
-

-
- give thanks, give thanks to the Lord.
-

-
- Let's give thanks to the Lord,
-

-
- In the morning the birds sing praises
-

-
- In the name of the Father, Son
-

May the grace, love
and mercy of the Lord

be with each one of you.

Love is understanding,

love forgives everything

and God even said that love
endures everything.

That's why I tell you that
everything wrinkles except of...

...the Heart.

84 years of life

of Mr. Epaminondas,
80 of Mrs. María and 63 years married.

Let's give them a big hand

- I'd probably beat him.
- At what?

Salsa dancing.

- Uncle Norberto!
- Over here.

- Good morning, uncle.
- What's up Marce, good to see you.

- Are you done yet?
- Come help with the harvest.

- What are you harvesting?
- Yellow potatoes.

- Delicious. A lot?
- No, not that much.

Is it ripe?

It has to be harvested when it's green
otherwise the worms will get it.

- Ah, but it's thin, isn't it?
- Yes.

- Maybe you can give me a bag later.
- Sure.

He started banging on the door,

- Martha and me were in bed.
- Why did he do that?

He was drunk when he got home.

"Juan Pablo!" he said,
"come out, Juan Pablo!"

So I told him to get up.

but he was taking long. Camilo was furious,
so he picked up that chair to throw it.

He came running from over there,
but I diverted the chair.

It crashed there,
where the paint is.

Then he grabbed that stone.

I took it from him because
he was going to throw it.

As he couldn't open the door, he started
pushing it with his back until it opened.

What did Juan say?

"What's wrong with you?"
he said.

Then Juan Pablo slammed the door
and hit him with it.

Then Camilo said,
"Are you looking for trouble?"

- "What do you want?"
- "If you don't want any trouble just leave!"

So Juan Pablo left the house.

- He walked through the pouring rain.
- Poor him.

Camilo then laid down,
but on Juan Pablo's bed.

I stayed here, but Martha
and Juan Pablo came back to get me.

They didn't want me to stay here.

We went to grandma's house.

After that they called the authorities,

the Taitas.

They came and again...

- He freaked out.
- Yes.

He asked why they had
to come to get him,

that he was not from this community,
that he had a different identity.

- He told the guard that he had other roots?
- Yes.

Quillasinga - Indigenous Reservation

Let's get closer,
use these chairs too.

I believe we are here to

discuss Camilo's situation.

If we look within,
he is a person that

is not part of our culture
as indigenous people.

In his blood

he carries the tradition and
culture of the black community.

But that doesn't mean
he can't be with us

or doesn't fit in with us,
because he has shown

that he can behave

and he is also one
of our guards.

He always rejects me, says,
"You treat me wrong, you are not my mom."

When he is drunk,
I don't say anything to him.

It's already been
four times this year,

so on weekends we have
no peace of mind.

He is bigger and stronger than us.

Instead of becoming closer,
I am afraid of him.

That's my weakness.

Because if he grabs a knife

and he is out of his mind,
what do I do?

He was rejected at the nursery,

in elementary
and high school.

He was discriminated
because of his race.

While he stayed at home,

he knew nothing
about discrimination.

Let me tell you that you've failed,
with all due respect.

Forgive me,
but you have failed.

You have to start educating them
when they are young.

I knew about the problems
he had in school.

You should have gone with him

to ask his classmates to respect him,

because we all need respect.

The problem is deep,
it's a family issue

and we have to help Mama Martha,
Taita Norberto and Camilo.

Once you had children of your own

you somehow left Camilo
emotionally alone.

As a mother, I agree with you.
You had nine months

to develop full motherhood
with your other two children.

That didn't happen with Camilo.

He is screaming for love,
"I want love!"

We support him.
We haven't abandoned him

and we are still
at the Reservation

because we recognized ourselves
as indigenous and he does too.

Do you know what the police
asked me that day?

"As his father, you decide:

do we take him to the Prosecutor's Office
or to the indigenous authorities?"

I said, "We belong to the Reservation."

So he was under the
Reservation's jurisdiction.

A profession,
which is God's blessing;

to study,

that's what I've wanted for him,

not just to love him
and he with his music,

with his phone, up and down
the street and always angry.

I want him
to work and study.

With love it's possible.

By only saying, "I want, I want..."
and without love, it won't happen.

It is hard but

you must have faith.

That he has resentment towards you,

not against you,

needs to be analyzed.

It's very weird

for him to kick Juan Pablo
out of bed and to lay down himself.

Why do it?

Is he trying to get attention?

Is he jealous of his brother?

It has to be analyzed.

We are not going to
blame anyone,

because as parents
we can be wrong too.

Sit down over here, Camilo.

Look Camilito, we have talked
to the authorities,

to the Mama-authorities too.

Analyzing the situation,

I want to tell that you are
not alone. You are with us.

You've been very respectful

with the indigenous authority.

You've completed your tasks,
according to what I've been told.

Our life here at the Encano is to sow,

to look at the Cocha Lagoon,

the cows and the mountains every day.

You want to find your family
and it's your right,

but your family is your family.

Taita Norberto is your dad,
Martha is your mom

and you have two siblings.

There is nothing else to say, alright?

That would be all, Camilo.

Thank you very much.

You have to change your attitude

and the way you are.

I don't know why

you are bored of life.

What's the matter?

What is it that you don't
like about us, the family?

I just mess things up

because I get drunk

and remember things.

What kind of things do you remember?

Well...

I don't know, from before...

Before what?

I really don't know
what's happening to me, Bro.

You know that both of us
were raised with the same...

with the same kind of love.

We used to do things together,

play, be mischievous.

We'd get our beating,

but look...

I learned a lot from you.

I'm angry at what the Taitas said.

Not the Taitas,
the council of justice.

They said that you were raised badly,

at least that's what I heard.

This Saturday I'll go and I'll tell them

"I'm their son too. Look at who I am!"

Anything you'd like to say?

- No man, I'm good
- Sad.

There were no land titles
when we came to this land.

We have to regulate
and take measures.

We can do it with dialogue

now that he community is reunited.

What comes from the outside
is what has us like this.

We have information
that over in Naranjal

an outside person
bought 200 hectares.

In Santa Clara and Santa Rosa

you can't walk by the lakeshore anymore

because they say it's private property.

Just today
we were in a meeting.

They were talking about
the touristic potential

of the Cocha Lagoon

and its gorgeous landscape.

They are thinking of building hotels

and organizing ports,
but it'll be private property.

Maybe we can participate
in these projects,

but it'll be as waiters and such.

And they'll claim
that it's good work for us.

Together with the elders
we have decided

that the possession and easement
don't belong to the State.

It's the community's.

And the community has to respect,
legitimize and appreciate

the easements that
our ancestors have left us.

We hope that these
spiritual scenarios

keep strengthening us,

and keep showing us the way of life,

in order to protect
and defend our land

and to survive as well.

And that tonight we
are able to visualize

and to continue

the process of the community
of the Quillasinga people.

Cheers and a good journey to all.

Pai (Thank you).

-
- If the earth and the sky join the grace
-

-
- of the great awakening,
-

-
- If the earth and the sky join the grace
-

-
- of the great awakening,
-

-
- Taitas (fathers), Mamitas (mothers),
-

-
- Quillasinga people awaken!
-

-
- We will continue to live in love,
-

-
- with the teaching of the elders.
-

-
- Sharing the knowledge of the Chagra (garden),
-

-
- the weaving and the woman.
-

-
- We will continue to live in love
-

-
- the teaching of the elders
-

-
- People of the moon, people of the crops,
-

-
- people of love, I am Quillasinga!
-

-
- People of the moon, people of the crops,
-

-
- people of love, I am Quillasinga!
-

Camilo, this is María Helena,

she is the woman that
gave you to Family Welfare.

- Good afternoon.
- Nice to meet you.

- Please sit down.
- Thank you.

My name is María Helena Bermudez.

I worked as a maid
at a residence on 19th street.

We used to call your
mother La Fercha.

She worked there

and the woman, my boss gave
her a room to live in.

Your mother was a sex worker.

We were friends and everything.

One day my boss said,

"La Fercha has left the child

and he won't stop crying.
So I looked for her,

but I didn't find her
and didn't know what to do.

You were wet,
so I bought you a diaper.

I kept some baby clothes
so I changed you.

Again I went to look for her
and found her in a crackhouse,

where they sell drugs.

I told her, "Come home!

The baby won't stop crying."

She was so wasted that I said, "No more!"

I told Miss Rosaura, that I'd take him.

I went to give you in for adoption

by the name of Nicolás Bermúdez.

Yes, Nicolás Bermúdez.

Later she asked me,
"How is my son?"

and I said, "He is alright."

As time went by,

she got worse and worse

until I heard that
she had passed away.

She died when you were
about seven months old.

She died because she went
right back to the streets

and didn't take care of herself.

She never recovered from giving birth
and then she died.

You look just like your mother,

the same face.

The same face as La Fercha!

I want to thank you

for what you did for me

when I was a baby.

It's a shame that
my mother passed away.

Yes, she died.

Did she have other children
or just me?

No, just you.

She wasn't from here.
She was from the coast.

From the coast?

Yes, from the coast.

From Tumaco or so,
judging by you looks.

Your dad I never met.

I'm glad to have met you today,

it makes me feel really happy.

If you wish,
you are welcome to our territory.

I invite you to
learn about our traditions.

- Because I am a Quillasinga.
- Really?

I'm indigenous.

- His dad is a Taita.
- My dad is a Taita.

- You can visit and get to know our culture.
- Thank you very much.

- Whenever you want.
- Great, Thank you so much.

- You can give me your number.
- Yes.

I'm glad to have met you.

- Good evening.
- Hi.

Hi, Juan Pablo.
God bless you.

I found out what
I wanted to know,

that was the most important thing.

The woman that gave me to
Family Welfare seems nice.

She's 60 years old

and is like another mom.

She was the one that
gave me up for adoption.

She breastfed me when I was little.

Me and another baby, her son.

She nursed us both,

one of us on each side.

One mother is in heaven and
the other Mamas are here with you.

That's why I tell you
that you are not alone.

You have a big family.

We're here to help each other out,

your siblings, your mom.

Let's keep respecting each other

and living in harmony

here in our territory
with Mama Cocha,

the moon and the stars
that always shine on us.

From one of those
little stars your mom

looks at you
and takes care of you.

Take it easy, you're at home.

Here's your brother.

Son, may God continue to bless you.

It's okay, Son.

Where do the spoons go?

Impossible!

Can you picture being in Tumaco?

Have you ever thought of going?

Me? Of course!

The plan is
never to smoke again.

I hardly ever smoke tobacco.

I have been smoking less than before.

The question is
if you have more siblings?

Or grandparents.

Or uncles.

Maybe.

- Shall we plant some more?
- Yes.

- Maybe five more.
- Let's start over there.

Tumaco... Where are you from?
Somewhere hot?

With heat...

- It's dangerous there.
- That's what I mean.

What if we found another
one like you?

That would be crazy!

- Good morning.
-Where are you traveling?

- Tumaco.
- Yes, Sir.

- It's warm.
- It's already heating up.

At last fresh air!

- Just one?
- Yes, just one.

How great is coconut water?

Look,

huts.

Look Camilo,

the open sea, just like I told you.

A little animal lives here.

What's over there?

Could be a mountain of sand.