Corazon del Tiempo / The Heart of Time

Trades Hall 7:00pm 11th February 2009

Fundraiser for the Zapatista Community Hacia la Esperanza

The Zapatistas, masked rebels of the Lacondon Jungle have revealed themselves in the award winning 2009 film directed by Alberto Cortés: Corazon del Tiempo

In La Esperanza de San Pedro, Chiapas, in the midst of the Zapatista struggle, Sonia, a member of the community, is about to be married. Her dowry, a cow, has been delivered. Her boyfriend’s family has been spoken to… However, Sonia is in love with another: an insurgent. Now, the EZLN has a problem on their hands and the entire community must come together so that the voice of its members can be heard and respected; and so that duty can be overcome by love.

This screening is a fundraiser for the indigenous Zapatista communities that feature in the film. Since 1994 these communities have been supporting themselves totally autonomously from the Mexican Government. Despite being amongst the poorest people in the world, they run their own schools, hospitals and agricultural training centres which they make available for all people in the region, not just their supporters. Because they refuse to accept corrupt government officials, Zapatista communities suffer form harassment by paramilitaries and the army. Political and material support is urgently needed to defend their project of local democracy.

The film will be screened for the first time in Australia at Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St Carlton, on Thursday 11th February at 7:00pm.

The film and its context will be introduced by PhD candidate Tristan Epstein, recently returned from fieldwork in Southern Mexico.

For enquiries please contact