Migrants through Central America: an act of resistance

The caravans of migrants from Central America are massive acts of resistance. Cinema becomes activism showing people on the journey, their own power as protagonists. The story of one woman and her children highlights poverty, an escape from domestic violence and anti-LGBTQ prejudice.

20,000 people made the journey of 4000 Km, passing many check points and taking 10 weeks: long enough for the film-makers to form strong relationships. With so much material they decided to make two films. The present one is an intimate portrait focusing especially on one woman, Lilian her family and female friends. A second film will show the caravan in the broader context of migration in the region, domestic violence, and the failures of the state and its authorities.

This is where the directors believe the film can be most influential: 'to show the reality of migrant life to people who don't know about it...especially for groups that work with them'. As one of the children said:"Guatemala is emptier than our fridge".

The film "Lo que queda en el camino"("What remains on the way"),was made by Jakob Krese and Danilo do Carmo the co­ directors,while Jakob and Annika Mayer run a small production company, Majmun Films in Berlin. And this was their first big project, after a short film "Laespera".The Prisma spoke to Jakob after the film was shown to accredited guests at Visions du Reel festival, at Nyon in Switzerland.

The interview was published in The Prisma Multicultural Newspaper on 9th October 2023 and can be accessed in full with links and images here: https://theprisma.co.uk/2023/10/09/migrants-through-central-america-an-act-of-resistance/