Soraya, Love Is Not Forgotten 2006
Distributed by Third World Newsreel, 545 Eighth Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018; 212-947-9277
Producer n/a
Director n/a
DVD, color, 53 min.
College - Adult
Latin American Studies, Women's Studies, African Diaspora, Post-War Experiences
Date Entered: 03/01/2011
Reviewed by Ayodele Ojumu, Library Media Specialist, Buffalo Public SchoolsSoraya, Love is Not Forgotten, is the personal account of one Afro-Columbian woman’s experience after the murder of her husband and forced displacement from the province of Chocó. The long-lasting, political conflict between the Columbian national army, guerillas, and the right-wing paramilitary turned Soraya Palacios’ world upside down. She supports her six children on meager wages earned from selling food early mornings on the street and frozen treats during hot afternoons. Chores considered to be “man’s” work falls on the shoulders of Soraya. A sense of heartbreaking bereavement is felt throughout the film. One cannot help but to empathize with Soraya’s despair, which highlights the reality of those most affected by political conflict: women and children. The technical quality is good. All dialogue is spoken in Spanish with English subtitles. The background information on the 1997 Chocó conflict is awkwardly handled and lacks depth. This intimate perspective is intended for audiences who are knowledgeable about or studying the political and cultural history of Columbia, specifically as it pertains to Afro-Columbians.