The Offended
(Los ofendidos)
Marcela Zamora | Documentary
2016 | 85 minutes | Mexico, El Salvador
An award-winning documentary on the legacy of the internal armed conflict in El Salvador, The Offended features the director’s charismatic father, Rubén Zamora, a key political leader and current Salvadorian Ambassador before the UN who was captured and tortured by the National Police during the country’s civil war.
Synopsis
An award-winning documentary on the legacy of the internal armed conflict in El Salvador, The Offended features the director’s charismatic father, Rubén Zamora, a key political leader and Salvadorian Ambassador before the UN, who was captured and tortured by the National Police during the country’s civil war.
Illustrated with shocking archive footage, Zamora’s testimony, as well as that of others who suffered a similar fate, provides insight into the scope of this horrific war during which tens of thousands of people were murdered in shadowy circumstances.
An interview with a man who took part in the torture in a subordinate capacity also makes us aware of the cruelty people are capable of.
Above all, The Offended breaks the silence – not only of the generation that went through all of this in person, but also of the next generation, which is afraid of reopening the old wounds.
Reviews
"Marcela Zamora questions the past to talk about the present... Her work travels the history of her country since its birth; providing a roadmap." — Alberto Arce, The New York Times
"Gives voice to those stories many would prefer to keep silent." — Manuel Betancourt, Remezcla
"An important exercise for recognition and grieving." — Fernando Bustos Gorozpe, Sopitas
"The documentary includes abundant archive material that allows for the contextualization of a dark chapter of this Central American country and adds the riveting testimonies of tortured people and the finding of a torturer that, with a covered face, agrees to talk about what happened." — Jorge Cappelloni, El Angel Exterminador
"Marcela Zamora Chamarro's work has been an indomable hurricane. The documentary filmmaker has managed to shake the consciousness of those who perceive -through her work- the fragile limbo between life and death in El Salvador." — Orus Villacorta, Revista Factum
Citation
Main credits
Zamora Chamorro, Marcela (film director)
Zamora Chamorro, Marcela (screenwriter)
Zamora Chamorro, Marcela (on-screen participant)
Fernández, Julio López (film producer)
Zamora, Rubén (on-screen participant)
Martínez, Ana Guadalupe (on-screen participant)
Other credits
Cinematographer, Álvaro Rodríguez Sánchez; editor, Andrea Bilbao.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Central America
Criminal Justice
Culture + Identity
Family
Fascism + Repression
History
Human Rights
Latin American Studies
Political Science
Sociology
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Havana Film Festival - Jury's Mention
Costa Rica Film Festival - Audience Award
ICARO International Film Festival Guatemala - Best Central American Documentary
IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam
Mar del Plata international Film Festival
Guadalajara International Film Festival
DIRECTOR: Marcela Zamora
NATIONALITY: Mexico, El Salvador
YEAR: 2016
GENRE: Documentary
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: College, Adults
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
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