Ukuku
Gastón Vizcarra / Peru / 2009 / 20 min / Colour
Italian premiere
The Ukuku is a mythological personage of the Andes, half bear and half man, whose primary function within the Andean cosmic vision is to ascend to the snowy peaks and bring down ice, which is considered sacred in many Peruvian villages. This personage is the protagonist of the “Qoyllur Riti” (snow star) festivity, celebrated every year in the Sinakara ravine, near Cuzco, where tens of thousands of pilgrims gather to see the armies of Ukuku climb the highest peaks to retrieve the sacred ice. The film tells the story of an Ukuku who reaches the peak, but does not find ice. Desperate because he has not accomplished his sacred mission, and guided by the wise Mama Coca, the poor Ukuku crosses all of Peru in search of ice. His voyage takes him close to modern life on the Peruvian coast, where he finally finds ice, and also his unexpected destiny.
Gastón Vizcarra
Credits
Language Quechua, Spanish Subject Gastón Vizcarra Screenplay Gastón Vizcarra Cinematography Rafael Vizarreta Sound David Romero Editing Alfredo Ferreyros Music Miguel Figueroa Main cast Sergio Espinoza, Hermelinda Luján, Akinori Sato, Miguel Vergara, Christian Bjork Producer Gastón Vizcarra Production company Aguardiente Producciones