Review of Even the Rain (2011) by Sienna P — 17 Sep 2010

This film tells the story of a film crew arriving in Bolivia to make a documentary about the arrival of the European explorers to Latin America, but end up caught up in another historical event(the Cochabamba protests of 2000). The Cochabamba protests were protests against the privitization of water in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The film contrasts the treatment of the Indigenous peoples during the arrival of Christopher Columbus with their present day treatment. The films plays almost like a docudrama and displayed some impressive editing.

Many other issues like entitlement to natural resources, poverty, government and police corruption are explored. Should a filmmaker get involved with a political conflict when they are shooting in a foreign country? At what point do they overstep their boundary? One important scene features the film's director Sebastian (played by Gael Garcia Bernal) arguing with the Mayor of Cochabamba for the fundamental right to clean water. The Mayor argues that the corporate investments improve the quality of the water and the local economy, and if the people do not pay for the water who will?

Ironically the producer of the Costa (played by Luis Tosar) initially enters Bolivia with a very Eurocentric attitude. He belittles the Indigenous peoples, yet by the end of the film he respects their courageous struggles. He risks his life in the process.

The directing, acting, editing, and writing of this film are quite strong and this film seemed quite favourable for the Toronto International Film Festival audience.