The intersecting lives of two otherwise unrelated people in a rural Bolivian village adjacent to the Uyani salt flats are presented. The first is Carlos, a poor salt miner. Unlike his colleagues, he is unwilling to take the one time compensation package from an American conglomerate who wants to purchase the mining rights. Carlos would rather get paid for doing actual work than risk living off a one time payment without a guarantee of any other work in the area. Carlos being the one holdout irks his fellow miners, who cannot get their compensation until Carlos also agrees to the terms. Carlos views all gringos in a bad light because of this situation. The second is Marc, an American doctor who has worked in various third world countries providing aide where needed. Marc is completing his term here. Carlos and Marc have a turbulent few meetings based on Carlos' feelings toward gringos and his want for a simple stable life.
Acting
Aduviri's simmering resentment needs zero subtitles.
Cinematography
The salt flats look like another planet judging humanity.
Direction
Greene lets silence do the screaming.
Director
Nicholas Greene
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Juan Carlos Aduviri later starred in 'Even the Rain' (2010), another Bolivian water-rights drama, making him the unofficial face of indigenous resistance cinema.
The Uyuni salt flats contain 50-70% of the world's lithium reserves — American corporate interest here isn't fictional, it's literally powering your phone battery.
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