Cuerpos Vivos (Living Bodies)

According to the Honduran Public Ministry, during the 2020 pandemic, there were over 100,000 calls to 911 from women reporting instances of domestic violence. Shockingly, fewer than 30% of these distress calls received attention from the authorities. “Living Bodies” is a documentary that paints a picture of a society drowning in apathy and silence.

Through the lens of the camera, the film takes us on a visual journey through a typical day in the city. It captures glimpses of windows, streets, balconies, apartments, buildings, and homes. As these fragments of urban life unfold, we’re accompanied by the heartbreaking phone calls of women reaching out for help to 911.

Simultaneously, we’re presented with a mosaic of bodies of varying ages, featuring shoulders, elbows, moles, gray hair, wrinkles, and scars. Amidst this imagery, we hear the testimony of Amara, a 22-year-old Honduran woman who endured violence at the hands of her partner. Her narrative offers a stark reflection of the deeply entrenched stereotypes that women in Latin America are subjected to from a tender age.

“Living Bodies” morphs into an experimental documentary that aims to use sensory-rich visuals and sounds to amplify the empowerment of female bodies. It also sheds light on the detrimental stereotypes that afflict girls, young women, and adults alike in the country.