Educational Media Reviews Online

"If documentary film is the recovery of history, may this story prevent these crimes from remaining unpunished in Colombia." Never Again

The Cacarica region was home to a prosperous Afro-Colombian farming society. But it was also bound to be a point of contention among several fortified combative groups due to varying interests (exploitation of natural resources, wealth from its biodiversity, a point of entry for contraband and a spot for trafficking weapons). For these reasons, this territory became disputed "property" between drug traffickers, guerillas, paramilitaries and corrupt military personnel. As in most circumstances, when armed entities enter into conflict, it is the innocent who suffer; in this case the guiltless were the residents of Chocó, Rio Sucio, and Puente America. Never Again recounts the stories of the inhabitants from these communities, who were targeted, forced from their municipalities and made homeless. Their tragedy began in June 1996 when the paramilitary created an economic block by restricting the delivery of food to rural areas and started leveling threat of violence against the people. Many families decided to leave, thinking things would get worst and they were right. On December 20, the first executions by the paramilitaries took place followed by the destruction of dwellings causing a mass exodus to the cities of Turbo and Cupica (a border town located in Panama). Nearly 4,000 persons were displaced with the majority escaping to Turbo and an additional 96 families fleeing to Cupica. Those that fled to Cupica were relocated to a military base called Paya and eventually deported to Cupica Bay, Colombia. In Turbo, Paya, and Cupica Bay, whole populations were placed in overcrowded refugee camps and shelters under inhuman conditions where there was a frightful lack of food, sanitation, and medical assistance but a purposeful dose of fear from the patrolling paramilitary and authorities. Nevertheless, the members of these communities would not remain broken. United, they created a 5 point proposal for their return home. The plan contained stipulations such as the registration for collective land ownership for 24 communities and the right to moral reparations after knowing the truth surrounding their displacement. Following arduous negotiations with the state, more than 2,000 displaced persons from the Cacarica Basin have returned to their homeland and established 2 settlements; New Life and God's Hope.

Never Again slowly unfolds and at times can seem disjointed (it would have been helpful to start with the events then go into the personal accounts). While the personal accounts were tragic and the emotional purging was necessary to connect the viewer with the victims, it would have been interesting to see the negotiation and actual process on how the displaced were repatriated in lieu of some of the individual statements and a brief footnote about the repatriation at the end of the movie. However, Never Again does a good job of doing what most documentaries are known for; providing a report of an incident or some aspect of life/reality. The documentary takes place 3 years after the initial events and through art, dance, music, and testimony the atrocities of what happened are documented; one can feel the emotional toll and see the sadness under the surface of the demeanor of the citizens. In this manner, the film serves its purpose as a human record that gives the wronged an avenue to publicize to the world the traumatic events that have significantly impacted their lives and future. Overall I would recommend Never Again, however due to the occasional graphic nature of selected testimony I would use discretion it showing this film to an under college level audience.