Iciar Bollain's Film Even The Rain
Even the Rain is a film that illustrates the parallelisms between Christopher Columbus’s exploitation of indigenous native tribes in search of gold in the 1500’s and the modern day multinational corporations and Bolivian government who have allowed the privatization of natural water resources. Iciar Bollain’s film is about the filming of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in a new land exploiting the native tribes by demanding gold and brutally punishing those who did not comply in the name of the Spanish empire. The location of the Columbus film shooting was Cochabamba, Bolivia in the year 2000. This was a period of social rebellion in Cochabamba when multinational corporations were privatizing the water and demanding citizens pay high price
for water, equating to 1/3 of the citizen’s monthly income. Daniel played Hatuey the protagonist for the indigenous natives in the Columbus film, and is at the forefront of the protest and speaks for the indigenous citizens of Cochabamba to end the privatization of Bolivia’s water.
Parallelisms within the movie include preacher’s sermon from a small church and Daniel’s speech in front of the Water authority building to a small group of citizens. Natives protest against Spaniards hitting them, breaking away from their bindings, and escaping from their slave prison. Similarly, the citizens of Cochabamba come together at a large gathering, rallying and organizing a march. Just as Spaniards brutally punished the natives when gold contribution was lacking, police show brute force punishments and the use of guns. Preacher begs the indigenous leader to accept God and denounce his beliefs otherwise he will burn. The preacher rings the bell and calls out “stop the fighting”. Daniel’s last statement is “Survive like always – that’s what we do best” and have been doing so for centuries.
The past century has been referred to as neocolonial period, however, a parallel examination of the Spanish conquistadors (Columbus) and international companies/government, natural resources (gold & water) as commodities, and the indigenous people can conclude that colonization has not changed in 500 years.
for water, equating to 1/3 of the citizen’s monthly income. Daniel played Hatuey the protagonist for the indigenous natives in the Columbus film, and is at the forefront of the protest and speaks for the indigenous citizens of Cochabamba to end the privatization of Bolivia’s water.
Parallelisms within the movie include preacher’s sermon from a small church and Daniel’s speech in front of the Water authority building to a small group of citizens. Natives protest against Spaniards hitting them, breaking away from their bindings, and escaping from their slave prison. Similarly, the citizens of Cochabamba come together at a large gathering, rallying and organizing a march. Just as Spaniards brutally punished the natives when gold contribution was lacking, police show brute force punishments and the use of guns. Preacher begs the indigenous leader to accept God and denounce his beliefs otherwise he will burn. The preacher rings the bell and calls out “stop the fighting”. Daniel’s last statement is “Survive like always – that’s what we do best” and have been doing so for centuries.
The past century has been referred to as neocolonial period, however, a parallel examination of the Spanish conquistadors (Columbus) and international companies/government, natural resources (gold & water) as commodities, and the indigenous people can conclude that colonization has not changed in 500 years.