Altiplano (2018 film)

Altiplano is a 2018 feature film directed by Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth. It is a drama exploring themes of cultural collision, environmental destruction, and spiritual loss, set against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains in Peru and the city of Antwerp, Belgium.

The film interweaves several narratives. One storyline focuses on Grace, a war photographer in Antwerp grappling with PTSD after witnessing a traumatic event. Another follows Saturnina, an Indigenous woman in the Peruvian Andes whose village is mysteriously poisoned by mercury contamination from a nearby mine, causing widespread illness and death. A third narrative involves an expert in traditional Andean music and healing, connecting the two geographically disparate locations through shared experiences of suffering and resilience.

The film is noted for its visual style, blending realism with elements of magical realism and surrealism. It explores the contrast between the industrialized world and traditional cultures, questioning the impact of globalization and environmental degradation on vulnerable communities. It uses the high altitude plateau of the Andes, the Altiplano, as a symbol of both physical remoteness and spiritual connection.