Conexión: Huachuma
Conexión: Huachuma
20’ | Peru | 2021
Documentary in Digital 4K
CC/Subtitles in English & German – turn on/off in player.
Festivals & Screenings: Philadelphia Latino Film Festival, Seattle Latino Film Festival, Cine Latino in the UK, FECIT-Festival de Cine de Trujillo, FIDBA-International Documentary Film Festival of Buenos Aires, Festival Internacional de Cine de Tequila, Sguardi Altrove Film Festival, Femcine Chile (Festival Hecho por Mujeres).
Synopsis: Nachi, a native elderly curandero observes the beautiful nature of his beloved Andean highlands. His final destination? Marcahuasi, a mystical stone forest at 4000m altitude. In his backpack the healer carries the San Pedro, a cactus so respected in the region for its hallucinogenic effect. He believes that the Huachuma, as the plant is called in Quechua, can connect our past, present and future. Karoline, a young filmmaker, follows him with her camera. Full of doubts and questions, she wants to use the Huachuma to communicate with her deceased parents. Will she be able to see them one more time?
Two stories entwined in an intimate journey through grief and the tender struggle of letting go.
Directed and Produced by Karoline Pelikan
Photography: Renzo Belón
Assistant Photography: Diego A. Julca
Music: Chano Diaz Limaco
Sound: Elisa Mamani | Abigaíl Giol
Edited by Karoline Pelikan
Post Production: César Pérez, Ricardo Cabellos, Juan Carlos Zavaleta, Willy Ilizarbe
Animation: Miguel A. García Cabrera
A heartfelt thank you to my friend Alberto “Nachi” Lopez.
Thoughts and reflections:
‘Conexión: Huachuma’ developed over a long period of time. It took me five years and nine uphill climbs to Marcahuasi to realize that the initial portrait film about an indigenous curandero had turned into my story and journey of dealing with the loss of my parents.
When my mother died in 2013, I thought my life was over, too. My Dad had passed away when I was 2, so I had no parents, no guiding minds to turn to. Connection lost. The deep pain of losing a loved one is a universal theme, giving me confidence our film can resonate across cultures and borders.
In 2015 I arrived for the first time in San Pedro de Casta, a small Andean town at 3,200 meters above sea level. Most of the inhabitants are elderly and live a life in complete tranquility among their farms and houses. San Pedro de Casta has one tourist attraction: Marcahuasi, a mystical stone forest and archaeological site. That’s where I met Nachi, my guide throughout this journey. The more time I spent with Nachi, the deeper our friendship grew, and with it, my understanding of loss and resilience. I’m infinitely grateful that Nachi invited me to be part of his world, showing me his deep connection with Mama Pacha.
Although my mind is rational, I trust that Nachi's beliefs contain a beautiful metaphorical wisdom that Mother Earth demonstrates to those who want to listen. Through the Huachuma, better known as the San Pedro cactus that has a hallucinogenic effect, Nachi connects with her. When Nachi talks about the connection of past, present and future, I feel a childlike happiness, a hope of being able to connect with my deceased parents. But doubts accompany me. What if the Huachuma is nothing more than an illusion?
In the end, it is the audience's decision to doubt or to believe.
’Conexión: Huachuma’ intends to promote our rich Peruvian culture, the search for connection with nature and the mystical world. But above all, it is an intimate story about grief and letting go.
© 2021 Pelikan Pictures. All rights reserved.
