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La Trinchera Luminosa del Presidente Gonzalo

Anthology Film Archives
New York, NY

"Marching with ardor in the victorious People's War"

La Trinchera Luminosa del Presidente Gonzalo is Jim Finn's vision of one day in a Shining Path women's prison cellblock/training camp in 1989 Peru. The ideology (and the eyes) of Chairman Gonzalo presides over the prison camp in a large mural displayed on one of the exterior walls. His presence is constantly felt and repeatedly referenced by the women who are drilled to say certain things, and trained to commit violent acts to aid the revolution.

"If you hear a baby crying and see a rat chewing on its fingers, is it bad to kill the rats?"

The anger and resolve of these women is admirable: they seem to believe that ideas and vision must unite with courage (and in this case violence) to incite true change. But Finn subtly reveals the flaws in the system through hilarious personal interactions between the women ("She called us lazy-asses because we weren't cleaning the bathroom") and their focused reverence to their Chairman.

Like his debut feature Interkosmos (NYUFF Opening Night 2006), Finn has again collaborated with musicians Jim Becker and Colleen Burke to create a score that becomes the film's Greek chorus, featured under the choreographed sequences of the women chanting and marching in formation.

"Jim Finn has made a name for himself...thanks to his feeling for irony and his capacity to shape something new from propaganda, news and other historic images. Not to forget his very dry sense of humour".
- Rotterdam International Film Festival

Note: Additional tickets may be available day-of-show at the Anthology Film Archives box office.

Kid Friendly: No

Dog Friendly: No

Non-Smoking: No

Wheelchair Accessible: No

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