Scraps of life

Description

Two thousand people were murdered in Chile during the Pinochet years, according to official government statistics. Although the dictatorship has finally come to an end, it has left a legacy of bereaved mothers, sisters and wives. These surviving women come together to demand truth and justice from the new government. They sew murals out of scraps of fabrics, called arpilleras, that record Chile's bloody history. These women's groups are a far cry from traditional women's sewing circles. Many women have become politically active, determined to wrest the truth about the fate of their loved ones from the labyrinth of government bureaucracy. Some undertake projects to help the poor and to educate their country's youth. As we meet the women and hear their tragic stories, we marvel at their strength. Their unique creations are their insurance that the deaths will be remembered by future generations. A Spanish version is available.

Runtime

29 min

Creator

Jamison, Gayla

Series

Subjects

Geography

Genre

Date of Publication

1993

Database

Alexander Street

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