Is it possible for a group of women who don't speak the same language to form a close bond? How can such a bond even be created in the first place? Photographer and now filmmaker, Lotte Van Raalte, managed to achieve just that with three women from Oaxaca, Mexico. Over the course of four years, they got to know each other very well and collaborated on a wonderful and intimate short film.
© 2021, Lotte van Raalte
Mexico served as inspiration for Van Raalte’s debut as a filmmaker. Motivated by the vibrancy of the country and its people, she was drawn to the idea of creating an audiovisual experience that could deeply move the audience, both metaphorically and perhaps even physically.
This journey was an exercise in self-discovery for all involved and an exploration of female storytelling. What does it mean to be a strong woman? Is the concept the same in Mexico as it is in Europe? The weight of the word 'feminist' had already been on Lotte's mind since her photography project 'Body,' where she questioned how the female body has been portrayed through the male gaze over the years.
Guerreras portrays in a capsule of twelve minutes, the questioning of our roots, the relationship between our body and nature, and feeling proud of the lineage within our womanhood.
© 2021, Lotte van Raalte
I believe that their friendship was able to blossom due to the universality of struggles, and not just any struggles, but more specifically the generational traumas. But while pain can bring us together, what's even more remarkable is how we dealt with- or are dealing with- the process of healing which can unify us. In this case, these women, including the director, have found healing and comfort in Art and Nature where the body plays a significant role. It's about how we -as women- choose to reclaim our bodies.
We see this portrayed in our characters through the work of clay- a way to connect directly with earth- and for our other character, it was through the movement of her body : “my body is full of stories of other women and other times. It's important that I recognize which story my body is telling as I move”.
The importance of pausing and reconnecting with one's roots in nature can also be healing. Just like nature, we experience different stages: we have cycles, beginnings, and endings. Rituals become important for humans because they mark these cycles, symbolizing acceptance and letting go.
© 2021, Lotte van Raalte
How can we continue the legacy that so many women before us have fought for? Never staying silent again and continuously raising our voices is a way for another of our characters. : “Every generation has its struggles and I feel I have a responsibility for the time I live in [...] Even though they were taught to work hard and keep quiet, I am the result of what they learned. Of their sweat, love and pain”.
Silence is ours to take now, whether we choose or not to make use of it.
Living a fast paced life in highly concentrated cities has affected how we view life, relationships and our bodies. Pausing is always necessary and coming back to nature brings relief like an apapacho from it to us - and maybe this film into its audience.”