The documentary Casa Luz gives an insight into the everyday life of Peruvian orphans. A life full of poverty, loss and grief – a path they did not choose – and yet they still manage to find their way.
A day of supervisor Luz Ayala Gonzales starts early and often ends after midnight. Everyday, she and the other social workers take care of 53 boys and girls aged 0-19 years.
One of them is 17-year-old Jim who wants to become a famous footballer. There is also 14-year-old Janet who is dreaming of a carrier as a professional singer.
Among the weekly grocery shopping on the local markets, school visits and the coordination of new entrants, the film illustrates the first dramatic visit of 6-year-old Marisol to her family who lives in the rural town Ojollo.
The orphanage Casa Luz was founded by Argentinean Mariela Clark in the late 1990s and is located 3000m above sea level in the Andean city of Ayacucho.
In the 1980s and 90s, the Peruvian city of Ayacucho suffered from a civil war-like conflict between the Maoist organisation “Shining Path” and government forces.
Almost 70,000 people – especially the indigenous population – lost their lives during the violent conflict.
Written By: Navina Khatib
Directed by: Navina Khatib // Alexandra Weltz
Cinematographer: Alexandra Weltz
Project Assistance: Sarah Pfeil
Music: AERA (Ralf Schmidt)
Editor: Anna Pesavento
Sounddesign: Leo Brunnsteiner
Color: Walter Just
Produced by: Towanda Films// Navina Khatibi
The film is about the orphanage Hogar Casa Luz in Ayacucho (Peru) and had its official premiere at PUFF – Portugal Underground Film Festival in New York in 2013. We were then invited to several film festivals around the globe, won the Silver Palm Award at Mexico International Film Festival and it has been licensed by Polish TV TVP.pl.
Festival und Prizes
– “Silver Palm Award” 2013 – Mexico International Film Festival, Mexico
– “Best World Cinema” 2013 -Portobello Film Festival London, UK
***Official Selection***
– PUFF 2013 – Portugal Underground Film Festival, USA
– Mexico International Film Festival 2013, Mexico
– Portobello Film Festival 2013, London, UK
– Sydney Intercultural Film Festival 2013, Australia
– We the peoples Film Festival 2013 London, UK
– Manya Human Rights International Film Festival 2013, Uganda
– Madurai International Documentary and Short Film Festival 2013, India
– Jaipur International Film Festival 2014, India
– Chennai International Documentary and Short Film Festival 2014, India
– 17. International Film Festival ZOOM – ZBLIŻENIA 2014, Poland
– 16. Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, March 2014, Greece
For more Information about Casa Luz you can check this Facebook page
The Orphanage is asking for contributions to the up keeping of the orphanage or patronages for individual Children.
For Donations please contact Navina Khatib (navinakhatib@gmx.net)
