CALDERA

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Impressionistic Document

by: John Sturgeon ©1990

color, stereo, 10:00 mins.

 

A visually poetic investigation from strong cultural impressions of Argentina and Uruguay in the late 1980s, Caldera liberally mixes perceptions of these two counties – collage style. The Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the May Plaza) stage a weekly vigil in front of the Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, for family members missing/presumed executed during the Argentine military junta of the 1970's. Glimpses of strikes and political demonstrations are seen in the context of economic & political unrest in the collapsing economy of the 1980s.

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Other scenes denote the rich social interaction of the people, generated by street theater and mimes; impromptu tango dancing; street vendors and local mercados and indigenous music, such as African influenced Candombe, particular to Uruguayan and Brazilian street musicians and dancers. These are set against a backdrop of visible poverty, with growing numbers of beggars and a prevalent homeless situation amid the sense of a pervasive colonial past and dominance of Catholicism.

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Caldera has been considered a work-in-progress for years, because it was shot in VHS at the twilight of that era during the sweeping transition to enhanced digital formats. The raw material was eventually broken up into smaller fragments and utilized in various other works, such as Inside Out ©1990.

It is offered here as an impressionistic collage in its original w.i.p. form, as a Fairlight CVI processed rough-cut of those South American experiences.

 

Supported by:1988/89 Fulbright Scholar Fellowship & 1990 Checkerboard Foundation, Video Post-Production Grant