El Segundo Entierro de Alejandrino

The Emberá are one of the largest indigenous peoples of Colombia. Private guardians of their traditions, language and territory, they decided to open their lives to Raúl Soto and his film team to document a problem that is putting them in jeopardy. Their shaman and community leader, Alejandrino, died four years ago, but in his wife’s dreams, he asked to be buried again in his hometown. Fulfilling his late wishes, with the community in awe and in fear, Alejandrino is unburied and his body is found to be intact and mummified. This singular event may leave an impact on the fine line that separates life and death and the balance between these two dimensions, especially considering that in the Emberá tradition, shamans are the ones who guide people’s spiritual lives. Respect seeps from the pores of this film, a warm embrace based on an intimate look at everyday life, decision-making, rituals about the body and honoring Alejandrino. Every act is an important contribution to fulfilling his second burial.

La vida y la muerte son dimensiones de la existencia unidas en el mundo de los sueños en la comunidad Emberá Eyabida. Cuatro años después de su muerte, el chamán Alejandrino Carupia visita en sueños a su esposa Teresa Bailarín y le pide un nuevo entierro. Al desenterrarlo, Teresa encontró su cuerpo momificado. Ahora, ella debe preparar los rituales necesarios para cumplir el deseo de su esposo de darle sepultura en su pueblo. Mientras tanto, algunos miembros de la comunidad temen que el espíritu de Alejandrino se convierte en un “aribadá”, un ser que daña cosechas, causando enfermedades y la muerte.