The Film Verdict interviewed Peruvian film director Tito Catacora while he was in Los Angeles for a screening of his film, Yana Wara, Peru’s submission for the 2025 International Academy Awards.
THE FILM VERDICT: What made you decide to film in the Aymara language?
TITO CATACORA: Peru is a multicultural society where over forty local indigenous languages are spoken, and I believe they are all equally valid and important, but they are rarely heard in mass media productions or in most of our cinema, where the official language, Spanish, prevails.
TFV: What is the role of women and girls in your film?
We wanted to empower women through our story, which is set in the 1980’s but unfortunately I realize that some of those prejudices and attitudes unfortunately still prevail today. For example, believing that dishonoring a girl or raping her can be “fixed” through a forced marriage to “clean the family’s or communities’ honor.” In our story, the male community leader who expresses those outdated views is punished, after we see an indigenous Aymara woman leader urging the local councilmen to impart justice.
TFV: Formal education is an issue that is shown in a negative light in Yana Wara. Why?
The story unfolds in the 80’s, a time when corporal punishment was regarded as necessary and even encouraged. Our film shows that unchecked violence begets more violence and even leads to impunity when sexual assault is denied or hidden from society. In those days, education was reduced to teaching students to memorize and parrot sentences instead of thinking for themselves. Philosophically, we need to move beyond those paradigms.
TFV: I imagine the sudden death of your nephew Oscar, who wrote the script and began directing, affected you and the whole crew. How did you overcome that tragic setback?
There were several family members involved in the shoot, and we held discussions with them and the actors. Together we decided that the best way to pay homage to Oscar was to continue making the movie and follow his script. I was so used to working with him collaboratively, that I still consult him in my mind when I need his input. It’s as if he is still near me, I feel his presence and hear his advice. He had a softer touch; I think the story has become a bit harsher under my direction. I am a bit more rational than he was, he had a more sentimental take on the story. But in many ways we are still working together.
