Movies
Wiñaypacha: A Hauntingly Beautiful Story about Abandonment
Wiñaypacha is a 2017 film about an elderly couple (Wilka and Pahxsi) who live in a remote place in the Peruvian Andes. Their son has left home for a better future but has not visited his parents ever since. And throughout the movie, we will discover the precariousness existing in the couple’s habitat.
The director narrates the story from a contemplative point of view, involving the viewer with the beautiful landscapes on screen. It is a simple tale that is elevated thanks to its beautiful cinematography. The camera work endows the film with great narrative power, capturing isolation as the greatest enemy of our beloved protagonists.
As the film progresses, uncertainty emerges when the frigid environment starts squeezing the life out of our characters. A series of accidents leave the couple fighting for survival. And there is no one else who can help them. There are scenes when it feels like hope is completely lost, making you feel a sense of impotence because you can not do anything but watch.
Inspired by Italian neorealism, the choice of picking non-actors was excellent. Vicente Catacora and Rosa Nina (Wilka and Pahxsi, respectively) manage to connect with the viewer naturally, inviting us into their lifestyles and evoking emotions of loneliness that we can identify with.
Abandonment of parents is a subject that isn’t usually represented in Peruvian cinema. And it generates great sadness to realize this is the reality of many citizens around the country. The film is a call for attention to the children who, while seeking to follow their path to success, have lost all contact with their loved ones.
Wirñaypacha focuses on a condensed story that captivates without so much paraphernalia, not needing rapid editing or a considerable amount of shots in a single scene. Sometimes less is more, and the director understood this perfectly.
Unfortunately, the director, Óscar Catacora, passed away in 2021 while filming his second film Yana-Wara. In memory of his promising career, I share this film for lovers of slower-paced yet powerful stories.
