Anthropological Film | On the Road with Maruch

Synopsis of the film This anthropological documentary takes us into the world of an indigenous woman, Maruch de la Cruz Pérez. She is a 42-year old, unmarried woman from Chiapas, Mexico who rarely travels but loves to explore other cultures and learn from them. As she embarks on a journey through her home state she is restrained by both the traditions of her village Zinacantán, and by the racism and sexism of Mexican society to which she is subjected while travelling. The road trip made by Maruch and the film crew provides the viewer with insights into the culture and society of post-war Chiapas. The resulting film sketches out an intimate portrait of an indigenous woman who is trying to live a self-determined life; one that will finally liberate her from the traditions of her community, her former husband, and the terror of paramilitary groups. Awards This film was honoured with a special mention at the Dialëktus Festival, Budapest (2009) and with a “Special award for combining ethnography, visual representation and personal narrative” from the selection committee of the Festival of Ethnological Film, Belgrade (2008).