General Information

Author/Creator

Stelzner, Uli, director.

Published

Germany, 1997.

Physical Description

DVD-ROM (130 min.)

Digital ver. identifier

HU_OSA_00004138

Contents/Summary

Summary

Since the introduction of coffee growing, the history of Guatemala has been dictated by a small but very influential German community. In “The Civilizers”, the old coffee barons walk through their huge plantations and drawing-rooms, show old films and share faded photographs. The legacy of colonization emerges from their history: like slaves, the Mayan Indians pick coffee, sort cardamom, provide cheap labor for the textile factories and tolerate the occasional pat on the head. Even today, the younger generation of entrepreneurs continues to profit from the pioneering work of their forefathers and boast about the positive balance of trade and key costs in the government, behind the facade of anonymous company names. But war and violence reign in this country of permanent dictatorship. The Indians are continuously battling against land confiscation, abuse and massacres. In this film, questions of power, identity and civilization are brought to the forefront, as the Guatemalan people continue to be exploited by their patronizing "guests."

Subjects

Genre

Documentary films

Bibliographic Information

Note

Soros Documentary Fund

Library Special Collection

Soros Documentary Fund

Holdings

Item Type	Current Location	Call Number	Status	Shelving Location	Public Note
DVD-ROM	OSA Film Library	FL Record 2522	Available	-	-
Digital film	OSA Film Library	FL Record 2522 (HU_OSA_00004138.mp4)	Available		Access Copy, MP4 format