Educational Media Reviews Online

An inspirational story of two foreign lands providing services for the other, exchanging cultures, and building friendships. The islands of Ometepe, in Nicaragua, and Bainbridge, Washington, off the coast of Seattle, have become sisters in every sense of the word. A feeling of love and commitment between the two islands brings hope for other similar projects to be born. The people of Ometepe provide Bainbridge with their coffee supply and the citizens of Bainbridge use the profits from coffee sales to better the living conditions in Nicaragua. In the past, the money has been used to create a potable water system to promote better health, clothing, food, college scholarships, school supplies, and an expansion to their local library.

Islas Hermanas is structured in such a way that the people from each island discuss the different projects the sister island program has developed and how their lives have been enriched because of them. On one side, the donations given to the Nicaraguans have physically enriched their lives, as they are now healthier and have a better chance at furthering their education. On the other side, the Americans on Bainbridge Island are emotionally and spiritually enriched as they know they are helping to provide a better life for the people of Ometepe. Anecdotal tales are told from the young and old on both islands to illustrate the fondness and caring each has for the other. Through the personal experiences of each of the island inhabitants, a great sense of enthusiasm and gratitude shines brightly.

The dialogue of the Ometepe people is translated into English although viewers are able to catch a few phrases in the native Ometepe language. Many other cultural aspects are creatively dispersed throughout the video to provide viewers a sense of what living on Ometepe Island might be like. The different lifestyles, scenery, music, and food shown throughout the film create the illusion of visiting Ometepe, if only for a short while. Accounts from Bainbridge high school students who have spent time in Ometepe families lend a further sense of the warmth and friendliness of the Nicaraguans.

The price seems rather high, $195, for a film that lasts only 28 minutes, but depending on how frequently this video is used, it may be worth the cost. Islas Hermanas is recommended for high school and undergraduate classes in the fields of American and Central American Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Spanish, Community, and Geography. This film is also available in Spanish for those studying foreign languages.