Donde comienza el río explores the theme of returning to one’s roots throughthe lens of memory and dreams. I invite the viewer to follow a young Emberawoman, an indigenous culture from Colombia, on her journey back to her homevillage deep in the jungle, escaping Bogotá’s violence. Accompanying her is ayoung gangster, seeking to flee the repercussions of his actions and thedecline of his native neighborhood under drug trafficking. Their pilgrimagetogether will lead them to find forgiveness and to rediscover their trueselves. The jungle serves as a redemptive force, both physically andmetaphorically.
This is my most personal film to date, reflecting both an intimate desire toreconnect with my roots and a social narrative about Colombia’s efforts torebuild itself after the war. This involves reinventing spaces dedicated tomemory and adapting them to the reality left by the conflict. With this film, Ihope to give a voice to the many displaced people who have seen their worldstorn apart, fostering empathy and understanding in others. In the currentcontext of ongoing humanitarian and migratory crises, these themes are highlyrelevant. It is crucial to highlight the challenges migrants face and toemphasize the possibility of empowerment through the reconstruction of theirinner space.
Through a sensorial, immersive approach, Donde comienza el río blends memory,dreams and reality. The film employs a visual and aural language designed tocapture the profound impact of the environments Yajaira travels through and heremotional responses to them. Yet, at the core, I aim to authentically portraythe various spaces and diverse people she encounters.
In a time of global displacement, Donde comienza el río is a cinematic offering: a way to honor those who carry their homes within them, and those stillsearching for a space to belong.

Girleza Duave Cerezo, Juan David Junca Linares, Ana Michell Nama Dumaza

DIRECTING: Juan Andrés Arango

SCREENPLAY: Juan Andrés Arango

PRODUCTION: Annick Blanc, Maria Gracia Turgeon (Midi La Nuit), Paola Andrea Pérez Nieto (Inercia Películas) and 12PM

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Nicolas Canniccioni

SOUND: Pablos Villega, Samuel Gagnon-Thibodeau, Joey Simas

ORIGINAL SCORE: Frannie Holder

EDITING: Xi Feng