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The most striking aspect of the documentary Toda una Vida about the life of a Guatemalan circus family is the narrative sequence. The film revolves around mother Lopez, who rigidly manages the circus since her husband's death, and around her five adult sons. All five of them live on the circus grounds, alone or with their families, perform there and are connected to it with heart and soul. Some of them consider the strong family ties too oppressive; and the mutual competition triggers some rough confrontations between the brothers. But bidding the circus farewell is impossible for all of them. Together, they have to keep the family business going and in any case they can hardly survive (financially) without their relatives. Therefore, director Jacqueline van Vugt waits until the end of the film to show the separate families in a group portrait. Until then, we experience the muddle of a migratory life in a volcanic, bureaucratic country ourselves.

Credits

Set geluid
Production company
Jura Filmprodukties
TV company
IKON TV
Distributor NL
Lava Filmproducties en distributie

Title: Toda una Vida
Year: 2003
Duration : 1 hour, 15 minutes
Category: Long Documentary
Edition: NFF 2004

NFF Archive

You are now in the NFF Archive. The archive contains contains information on film, TV and interactive productions that were screened at past festival editions. The NFF does not dispose of this material. For this, please contact the producer, distributor or broadcaster. Sometimes, older films can also be found at the Eye Film Museum or the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision.

Stills

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