IDFA: Bila Burba

Colonialism wiped out many Central and South American cultures, but not the Gunadule, the indigenous people of northern Panama. In 1925, they successfully resisted the repression of their culture by the Panamanian government. In three days of fighting, they won their autonomy and thus saved their way of life. Known as the “Dule Revolution,” the glorious battle is commemorated annually with a reenactment involving hundreds of participants, including many children.

Bila Burba, made by Duiren Wagua, a member of the Gunadule, shows the re-enactment of the successful revolution, and looks back with descendants of the revolutionaries on the reasons for the uprising and the course of the events.

The film convincingly shows the power of this community theater in maintaining a unique collective identity, which emphasizes cooperation. Keeping the past alive is crucial because the Gunadule’s autonomy is once again under threat due to the Panamanian government’s sale of parts of their territory.