Los Andes no creen en Dios

Synopsis

The film is loosely based on the 1974 novel Los Andes no creen en Dios by Adolfo Costa du Rels and two short stories by the same author, La Misk'isimi (Sweet Lips in Quechua) and Plata del diablo (The Devil's Silver).

The film is set in the late 1920s in the small and remote mining town of Uyuni in the highlands of Bolivia, lying between a vast salt desert and towering mountains. The hero is Alfonso Claros, a young writer who has been educated in France and who arrives in Uyuni seeking to make his fortune in mining. He begins an affair with the sultry mestizo Claudina, but breaks it off due to local prejudice. Claudina turns to Joaquín, a friend of Alfonso, destroying the friendship between the two men. Alfonso befriends Clota, a former singer and now the local brothel keeper.

Alfonso joins Genaro, a mystic and expert prospector, on a search for a gold vein in the mountains, and the quest turns out to be a turning point in both men's lives. Returning to Uyuni, Alfonso finds that Claudina and Clota have aroused the intolerance of the priest and the local women, who have embarked on a campaign against them. Sickened by events, Alfonso leaves Uyuni. Twenty years later, Alfonso is on the way to take up the position of Bolivian ambassador to France, when his train stops over in Uyuni. He meets Joaquín by accident, and as he remembers Claudina is confirmed in his feelings about Joaquín.

Production

Planning for the film started in 1996, but was postponed for several years. The screenplay was finalized in 2003 and 2004, filming was done in 2005, and editing, sound, music and post production completed in 2006 and early 2007, with the film ready for release in March 2007. Over $500,000 was spent on production, a large amount for Bolivia, caused in part by the number of locations and the historical sets with period cars and steam locomotives.

Reception

Los Andes no creen en Dios was Bolivia's submission to the 80th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It was not accepted as a nominee. The film was nominated for the Best Film Award at the Cartagena Film Festival.

Cast