Cantos que inundan el río
a film by Germán Arango Rendón
Colombia | doc | HD | color | 53 min (TV) & 72 (theatrical) | 2021
About this film
Synopsis
Oneida was still a child when she learned the Afro-Colombian tradition of singing “alabados” to accompany the dead on their journey to purgatory. With one leg devoured by a snake and a war without truce, she became the composer of new songs and made her wounds a source of inspiration. Today, Oneida’s compositions unite the voices of millions in the reconciliation process of a country with one of the longest wars in history.
More about this film
Along the riverbank in the small community of Bellavista, a young Oneida learned to sing alabados, traditional funeral chants sung by Afro-Colombians on the Pacific coast to bid farewell to the dead as they return to the realm of souls. When she was eight years old, a snake devoured her leg, leaving her for dead in the jungle—a looming metaphor for what was to come. Oneida and her community found themselves in the midst of terror as war escalated in Colombia and their town became the site of one of Colombia’s deadliest confrontations, the Boyajá Massacre. As an adult, Oneida’s alabados are now sung for the millions of souls who have suffered as a result of this conflict. Mesmerizing and hypnotic director Germán Arango, together with Oneida, weave a melodious tale marking the scars of her misfortune and that of Colombia’s, to realize a healed future. (Heather Haynes | Hot Docs)
Crew & Cast
Original title: CANTOS QUE INUNDAN EL RÍO
International title: SONGS THAT FLOOD THE RIVER
Language: Spanish
Directed by: Germán Arango Rendón (Aka LUCKAS PERRO)
Producer: Ana María Muñoz
Writers: Germán Arango y Gustavo Vasco
Production company: Pasolini en Medellín
Country of production: Colombia
Genre: Documental musical
Running time: 52 min (TV version) & 72 min (theatrical)
Cinematography: Liberman Arango
Sound: Andrés Acevedo
Editor: Gustavo Vasco
Sound design: Guido Beremblum
Composer: Oneida Orejuela Barco &
Cantadoras de Bojayá
Production: 2016 – 2021
Completed: 2021
Filming location: Pogue, Bojayá, Chocó, Colombia
Festivals & Awards
- Nina S. De Friedemann Visual Anthropology Fellowship. Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH) 2016
- Winner Film Development Fund FDC-Proimágenes Colombia 2017
- Winning project. Bogotá Audiovisual Market – BAM 2018
- World Premiere. Official Selection Hotdocs 2021
- US Premiere. Official Selection True/False Film Festival 2021
- Honorable Mention by the Jury. Camden International Film Festival 2021
- Winner. Best Documentary. Cinélatino. Rencontres de Toulousse 2022
- Winner. Best Film. Colombian Competition. Festival de cine Verde de Barichara. FESTIVER 2022
- Winner. Best Feature. SVA Film and Media Festival. USA 2022
- Winner. Cine Plaza Award. Havana Film Festival 2022
- Winner. Grand Prix Documentáire. CinéMartinique 2023
See all film fests in which this film has participated
Sinopsis
Oneida aprendió desde niña la tradición afrocolombiana de cantar a los muertos para acompañarlos en su viaje al purgatorio. La guerra la llevó a hacerse compositora retomando las melodías de los cantos fúnebres para narrar lo que su gente estaba padeciendo. Desde el patio de su casa ella canta su pasado, mientras se da cuenta que sus heridas son a la vez su propia fuerza. Hoy, sus cantos hacen parte del clamor de paz de una región impactada por una de las guerras más extensas del mundo.
Ficha técnica
Título original: CANTOS QUE INUNDAN EL RÍO
Título internacional: SONGS THAT FLOOD THE RIVER
Idioma original: español
Dirección: Germán Arango Rendón (“LUCKAS PERRO”)
Producido por: Ana María Muñoz
Guion: Germán Arango y Gustavo Vasco
Casa Productora: Pasolini en Medellín
País: Colombia
Género: Documental musical
Duracion: 52 min (tv) y 72 min (theatrical)
Director de fotografía: Liberman Arango
Sonido: Andrés Acevedo
Montaje: Gustavo Vasco
Diseño sonoro: Guido Beremblum
Música original: Oneida Orejuela Barco
Musica preexistente: Cantadoras de Bojayá
Años de producción: 2016 – 2021
Año de finalización: 2021
Locaciones: Pogue, Bojayá, Chocó, Colombia.
Festivales y premios
- Beca de antropología visual Nina S. De Friedemann. Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia (ICANH) 2016
- Ganador Fondo para el Desarrollo Cinematográfico FDC-Proimágenes Colombia 2017: producción de largometraje
- Proyecto premiado en el Bogotá Audiovisual Market BAM 2018
- Premiere Mundial. Selección Oficial Hotdocs 2021
- Premiere en los EUA. Selección Oficial True/False Film Festival 2021
- Mención Especial. Camden International Film Festival 2021, EUA
- Mejor Documental. Cinélatino. Rencontres de Toulousse 2022
- Mejor Película Colombiana. Festival de Cine Verde de Barichara. FESTIVER 2022
- Mejor Película. SVA Film and Media Festival. EUA 2022
- Premio Cine Plaza. Festival Del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana 2022
- Grand Prix Documentáire. CinéMartinique 2023
Ver todos los festivales en los que la película participó
Sinopse
Oneida aprendeu desde criança a tradição afro-colombiana de cantar aos mortos para acompanhá-los em sua jornada ao purgatório. A guerra a levou a se tornar uma compositora, pegando as melodias dos cantos fúnebres para narrar o que seu povo estava sofrendo. Do pátio de sua casa ela canta seu passado, percebendo que suas feridas também são sua própria força. Hoje, suas canções fazem parte do grito pela paz em uma região impactada por uma das guerras mais longas do mundo.
Ficha técnica
Título original: CANTOS QUE INUNDAN EL RÍO
Título internacional: SONGS THAT FLOOD THE RIVER
Idioma original: espanhol
Direção: Germán Arango Rendón (“LUCKAS PERRO)
Producido por: Ana María Muñoz
Roteiro: Germán Arango y Gustavo Vasco
Casa Produtora: Pasolini en Medellín
País: Colombia
Gênero: Documental musical
Duração: 52 min (tv) e 72 min (theatrical)
Diretor de fotografia: Liberman Arango
Som: Andrés Acevedo
Montagem: Gustavo Vasco
Design de som: Guido Beremblum
Música original: Oneida Orejuela Barco
Música preexistente: Cantadoras de Bojayá
Anos de produção: 2016 – 2021
Ano de finalização: 2021
Locação: Pogue, Bojayá, Chocó, Colômbia
Festivais e prêmios
- Bolsa de antropologia visual Nina S. De Friedemann. Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia (ICANH)- 2016
- Vencedor Fundo para o Desenvolvimento Cinematográfico FDC- Proimágenes Colombia 2017
- Projeto premiado no Bogotá Audiovisual Market BAM 2018
- Premiere Mundial. Seleção Oficial Hotdocs 2021
- Premiere nos EUA. Seleção Oficial True/False Film Festival 2021
- Menção Especial. Camden International Film Festival 2021, EUA
- Melhor Documentário. Cinélatino. Rencontres de Toulousse 2022
- Melhor Filme Colombiano. Festival de Cine Verde de Barichara. FESTIVER 2022
- Melhor Filme. SVA Film and Media Festival. EUA 2022
- Prêmio Cine Plaza. Festival Del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana 2022
- Grand Prix Documentáire. CinéMartinique 2023
Conferir todos os festivais nos que o filme já participou.
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Press reviews
“One of two of my favorites…the story keeps a focus on the village community, its creative leaders, and the long struggle for justice.” [Full Review]
True/False: Two for One, or Two Halves Make a Whole? Patricia Aufderheide for IDA (International Documentary Association)
“Mesmerizing and hypnotic, director Germán Arango, together with Oneida, weave a melodious tale marking the scars of her misfortune and that of Colombia’s, to realize a healed future.” [Full Review]
Heather Haynes for HOT DOCS International Spectrum program
“..a sort of silent visual poetry” [Full Review]
3 films from this year’s True/False festival. Piers Marchant for THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT GAZETTE
“The formal eeriness ultimately enriches the community’s cultural vibrancy, illustrating how the alabado emanates from a place of strength. People like Oneida channel their considerable pain into a rich artistic tradition that serves to process those emotions and honor those who have passed..” [Full Review]
True/False Festival 2021: Highlights of a Virtual Event. Vikram Murthi for ROGER EBERT.COM
“The film “Songs that flood the river” (2021) tells in parallel the story of Oneida, “alabadora” from Bojayá, and the reality of the municipality during and after the signing of the Peace Agreements. Interview with director Germán Arango, known as Luckas Perro.” [Read Full Interview in Spanish]
Los trazos de la memoria en Pogue, Bojayá. María Paula Lizarazo for EL ESPECTADOR