Sanctorum

Oaxaca, Mexico. A small hamlet in the mountains. A four-year-old boy wanders through a gigantic forest, desperately looking for his mother, who seems to have vanished from the face of the earth together with the other villagers. His mother worked the marihuana fields. Because of globalisation, corn and coffee prices plummeted and local farmers cannot turn to the government for support. In order to survive, they now have to work for the drug cartels, who treat them abominably. At the same time they are subjected to army raids, which instead of protecting them, considers them to be criminals. What can one do against this level of devastating injustice?

On the advice of his grandmother, he calls upon his ancestors and the gods for help. Suddenly everyone is startled by a strange, overwhelming noise. ‘Sanctorum’ is drama as well as fantasy with a strong documentary take. The film is based on the very real circumstances under which the population in rural areas live, not only in Oaxaca, but in many regions of Mexico today. The non-professional actors almost exclusively speak Mixtec, enhancing the authenticity. The film’s images are astounding, but they have also worked on the impressive soundscape for almost a year.

‘Sanctorum’ is an apocalyptic vision of the indigenous population who atrociously have been robbed of their lands.