Near the historic center of Cartagena, Colombia, or “the walled city” as it is also known, there is a neighborhood where backpackers usually stay. Cheap hotels, guesthouses and hostels offer accessible service to this segment of travelers with the advantage of being within walking distance of the splendor of colonial architecture, beaches and the offering of cuisine.
One can walk by day with relative calm without making a loud demonstration of one’s status as a tourist, or as it is said locally, "“no hay que dar papaya.”
But with the fall of the sun, a wide awake neighborhood is revealed that opens the doors of its many bars and brothels. Girls appear on the sidewalks and talk with pedestrians with typical Colombian warmth. They offer a good time, and all is presumed natural until one stops to think how young these girls are in their provocative dresses.
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Our first contact with this unknown world was through a poster in our hostel that warned that sex tourism is punishable by law. When we started asking, we learned we were in a neighborhood full of dives that sexually exploit children.
We then began to perceive this "parallel" Cartagena more fully because of our projection of a film at the Fundación Renacer (Renacer Foundation). Once we got to this NGO (non-profit), we realized the worst consequences of tourism: child sexual exploitation.
We discovered Fundación Renacer after a bit of personal investigation. It is an organization that gathers the victims of this illegal and immoral business together. Children go there to seek refuge and find a network that can help with their families and their social reintegration. Counseling is also provided to families about how to protect their children.
After a warm welcome at Fundación Renacer, we offered the projection of a film. One of the coordinators selected "One Star and two Cafes,” a story of friendship between a young girl and an adult, in which the teenager becomes confused about their relationship and believes herself to be in love. The topic was controversial for the setting, however, we agreed to their request. After showing the film, a debate began that left us shocked. The maturity with which the children talked, their candor about sexuality and power relations at such a young age left us perplexed. Something we thought was so difficult to explain in politically correct language without upsetting their feelings was absolutely an everyday thing for our young viewers, who told of their experiences openly. This made us forget for a moment that we were in front of children, some of whom were not even 10 years old.
This first encounter was shocking and yet rewarding. It helped us move beyond nonsensical prejudices that grow as we become older.
The coordinators were very satisfied with the screening, and we organized a second meeting in a home for boys and girls who had been sexually exploited, but who lived in a home because they did not have family members to help them; or, if they had any, they had contributed to or exacerbated their situation of vulnerability.
The scene here gave us shivers! As soon as our truck was parked, a horde of children came to us with hugs and smiles. Again our prejudices faded; we thought these children would be reluctant to interact affectionately with adults, and the opposite happened.
Once the room was ready and the windows were covered with mattresses from the boys rooms, we started the screening of "No sos vos, soy yo," a romantic comedy that tells the story of the separation of newlyweds due to an infidelity.
While usually seen in a movie theater in absolute silence, this was an exceptional situation. The children shouted at the screen each time the main character hesitated to forgive the partner after being cheated on. Some time later we understood that their expressions were an example of the therapeutic process at work to identify those who had betrayed them and why they chose not to forgive. Their expressions were clear signs of opening up their emotions and the connections to the underworld that each of them carried inside, unimaginable situations that gave made our stomachs turn every time we perceived again how small they were.
During this screening, one of the girls was particularly moved by the story and wrote an emotional letter to the director of the film. Two months ago we had the opportunity to give this letter to him, and he told us he read it along with his family and that he treasures and appreciates it more than several awards he has received for his film.
This second experience impressed us even more than the previous one: how could anyone see these kids with different eyes? It was, is and will remain inadmissible. We remember those smiles, those eyes so full of comprehension born of necessity and we become emotional again! With this accumulation of intense feelings, we left the place astonished by one of the strongest experiences we've had in our lives. It was here that we understood the importance of what we were doing... the purpose of the trip that somehow disappeared every time we gave an interview and explained without understanding it.
The movies we were screening opened doors, but from another point of view, they were just an excuse that allowed us to share these kinds of meetings and contacts by taking something valuable to people, by changing something in someone's life. It was the gift of a different and brighter day, unimaginable for kids who in their lives had found so much pain and aggression in a society that chooses not to see them.
Taking movies to so many kinds of people has given us an apprenticeship in each location: we would never have gone to the Fundación Renacer if not for Rodando Cine, and we are thrilled to now be able to share these stories with the Pan American Dreams audience.
alex@panamericandreams.com
ine@panamericandreams.com
Translation from Spanish to English by Carina Kosel, Puerto BA Spanish, Buenos Aires.
carina@puertobaspanish.com.ar
