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El Olvido (Oblivion) is a documentary film directed by Heddy Honigmann in 2009. It addresses the life of people in Peru and the historical factors that impacted it. In general, the film suggests the existence of the legacy of colonialism and the Spanish Conquest, the traces of which may still be noticed in the country. Starting with the development of European exploration in the 15th century, the discovery of South America led to the colonialism and occupation of its territories by Spain. However, in the 19th century, the independence movements began along with the crises of legitimacy, market capitalism, the industrial revolution, and a shift of power (Independence, Democracy and Dictatorship). At the same time, when independence was declared, newly formed Latin American states started to feel their economic burden, while landowning elites secured their property and power, ignoring countries’ development.
Thus, in order to keep republics from devastation, authoritarian rule was resorted, and authoritarianism became the part of their political culture. In the case of Peru, authoritarianism was characterized by the power of military juntas and the changes of governments through coups d’etat. Regardless of the fact that there were numerous attempts to create a democratic regime through the presidency, multiple power groups continued to fight for the acquisition of power. Thus, according to a Peruvian in the film, there were periods when Peru had three or four presidents at the same time (El Olvido). The political struggles that negatively impacted the country were described by Mr. Chávez, a bartender who met many presidents working in an exquisite restaurant in Lima. According to him, the 20th century in the history of Peru may be regarded as a badly-mixed cocktail that consisted of semi-democratic elections, corruption, terrorism, and coups (El Olvido). Similar to other Latin American states, the country was characterized by the war between guerrilla movements and the army, scandals, inflation, famine, and fear.
While the political state of Peru was unstable, and presidents paid attention to their own benefits ignoring the state’s issues, millions of people were severely affected by inflation and crises that led to the high rates of the informal economy. In general, the informal economy may be characterized by private businesses that “do not possess appropriate documentation and who consequently do not pay social contributions and do not receive social protection from the government” (Finn 56). It is traditionally associated with income inequality, poverty, and social exclusion.
The consequences of the informal economy may be traced in the film that shows how Peruvians try to survive in challenging economic conditions. In Lima, there are countless small private shops, self-employed street vendors, and small vans and buses that provide services while their work is not regulated or protected. Moreover, millions of people from the whole country arrive in the capital as there are no opportunities for them to survive in the places from where they come. They have to live in Lima’s shantytowns, work even if working conditions are poor, perform tricks in front of cars, and clean shoes in the streets. Those who receive an opportunity to work in the sphere of service learn to please wealthy individuals as only money determines their well-being.
After reading classroom materials, El Olvido was even more interesting to watch as the film provides an insight into the current situation in Peru. It is possible to review multiple materials, however, they have never replaced the documentary that represents reality. I felt embarrassed when I watched how people try to survive and find the strengths to live every day. From a personal perspective, this film shows that colonialism and the oppression of nations have long-lasting and devastating consequences that may be observed after several centuries.
Works Cited
El Olvido. Directed by Heddy Honigmann, Icarus Films, 2009.
Finn, Korey. “The Informal Economy in Peru: A Blueprint for Systemic Reform.” Lehigh University, 2017.
Independence, Democracy and Dictatorship. Power Point Presentation.
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