Monday, January 25, 7-9pm, Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 E. Oakland Park Ave.

Screening of film “When the Mountains Tremble.” This 1983 documentary film was produced by Skylight Pictures about the war between the Guatemalan Military and the Mayan Indigenous population of Guatemala. Footage from this film has been used as forensic evidence in the Guatemalan court for crimes against humanity in the genocide case against Efraín Ríos Montt. The film centers on the experiences of Rigoberta Menchú, a Quiché indigenous woman who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992, nine years after the film came out.

“When The Mountains Tremble” won the Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival, the Blue Ribbon Award at the American Film Festival, and the Grand Coral Award/Best North American Documentary at the Havana Film Festival.

In 2004, “When the Mountains Tremble” was digitally remastered to commemorate its 20th Anniversary. The special edition released is updated after Menchú was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and includes a filmmaker commentary as well as an introduction from Susan Sarandon and an illuminating epilogue reflecting on the country’s events a decade later.

This film begins a study of the refugees coming across our southern border to escape violence in Central American countries. Through speakers and films we’ll explore the reasons for the violence and consider how each of us might respond.