The Wayuu heart speaks
from a Caribbean shore.
La Guajira, Colombia
About the Film
The Wayuu people, native to the Colombian-Venezuelan peninsula La Guajira, have lived in an arid land since ancient times, understanding water as a sacred resource. Open-pit coal mining endangers their valuable freshwater sources.
„Territorio Puloui“, is a journey to the region where women weave dreams and the Wayuu community fights for its future.
„Shiinolu‘u wuinkaa otta sulu‘u kasinpa, mayaainje‘e ja‘ishaanain ka‘ikai, nnojotsu amaülajüin, eesü wanee Puloui. Tü sheepeyuuishikaa mma sa‘inmajüin tü kataakaa o‘uu, oulaka shiaya‘a, wanee aseyuuwaa pe‘ipaajiraasü sukua‘ipa sümaa tü outaakaa otta na wayuu namaiwajanakana, wanee Molono Pülasü.“ (Wayuunaiki)
“In the deep waters and in the wells that do not dry up, even under the harsh sun, lives a female spirit we call Puloui, the protector of life. But at the same time, she is also connected to death and to the ancestors, which is why she is a sacred spirit.”
How we brought this story to life.
From the early stages of research to its journey through festivals, Territorio Puloui has prioritized direct collaboration and ongoing consent from the Wayuu community. The project is grounded in an ethical documentary practice that views cinema as a tool for memory and justice, one in which communities are not merely subjects of representation but active participants in the storytelling process.
The local production was led by Wayuu filmmaker Leiqui Uriana and her production company Anakaa Film, in partnership with the Red de Comunicaciones del Pueblo Wayuu (Wayuu People’s Communications Network), which contributed to both the creation and the translation of animations inspired by traditional legends into the Wayuunaiki language, ensuring a culturally faithful and respectful representation.
In addition, students from the Escuela de comunicaciones del pueblo Wayuu “Jayariyu Farias Montiel” (Wayuu School of Communications “Jayariyu Farias Montiel”) joined the technical team, bringing a young and engaged perspective from within the territory. The film also benefited from the guidance of Wayuu anthropologist Weildler Guerra Curvelo, who provided insight into the social, historical, and economic context of La Guajira.
This approach, based on mutual respect, was affirmed by the Wayuu community itself through the documentary’s participation in the Muestra de Cine y Video Wayuu 2024 MUCIWA (Wayuu Film and Video Showcase MUCIWA), further establishing Territorio Puloui as an example of ethical and intercultural storytelling.
Press
Nordkurier
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Mit „Territorio Puloui – Im Land des heiligen Wassers“ machen Filmemacher aus Schwerin die dramatischen Folgen des Bergbaus in Kolumbien für ein indigenes Volk deutlich.
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Lateinamerika Nachrichten
IM KAMPF GEGEN DIE TROCKENHEIT
Wie der Kohleabbau in La Guajira die Indigene Bevölkerung bedroht
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FILMFEST OSNABRÜCK
AUF DEN ERSTEN BLICK – PREMIEREN BEIM 39. FILMFEST OSNABRÜCK
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Podcast "Man müsste mal"
FOLGE 119: CARMELA DAZA UND MAIK GLEITSMANN-FROHRIEP
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Ministerio de Cultura
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University of San Diego
The Territory of Puloui Film Screening + Panel Discussion
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