Stay or go? „Los Ángeles” by Damian John Harper about Zapotec youth in southern Mexico at Berlinale´s Forum section

Somewhere in Oaxaca, southern Mexico: 16 years old Mateo lives here in a rural community, where the traditional Zapotec culture is still alive. But on the other hand it´s a poor region from where a lot of the young people migrate to the US. Mateo itself prepares his – dangerous – crossing of the border to reach the almost mythical city of Los Angeles. For this reason he joins a local gang, so that he can draw on their support over there. To be accepted into their circles, he has to commit wicked crimes – and the problems start.

That´s the almost predictable beginning of the movie „Los Ángeles“ by US-director Damian John Harper. However, the film offers (surprising) twists and not get lost in the usual display of violence and misery. Although the violence plays an important role, the film provides an intimate insight in everyday life and culture of the Zapotecs; even many dialogues are in Zapotec language. The camera (by Friede Clausz) is always moving and near to the protagonists, creating an documentary-style emotional closeness. The older villagers still hold on to their ancient values, maintaining a natural connection to their roots, each supporting the other in their own way. Mateo is torn between the possibility, to try his luck in Los Angeles and the simple life of his community.

Perhaps even more amazing than the film itself is its genesis: Director Damian John Harper is a trained anthropologist, who lived one year in the village, where the shooting of his first full-length movie took place. The actors are not professionals, but inhabitants of the community. After the screening Harper tells, that he had many nightmares about the question, if he as a foreigner was allowed to make a movie about the Zapotecs. But as we can say: It has been a good decision and Harper succeed presenting a cliché-free film about the Zapotecs between tradition and modernity.

And contrary to what one might have suspected the movie has not been co-produced by Mexico, but alone by Germany, where Harper studied film at the University of Television ans Film in Munich. But as Harper points out: Mexicans and Zapotecs have had great importance in the production, even though there has been no money from Mexico.