Film Special: "Finding Oscar"
Justice and reconciliation triumph in this absorbing documentary about an unlikely survivor of Guatemala’s civil war.
Discussion follows with director Ryan Suffern
In a forgotten massacre during Guatemala’s decades-long civil war, a young boy was spared, only to be raised by one of the very soldiers who killed his family. Nearly three decades later, it will take a dedicated team—from a forensic scientist to a young Guatemalan prosecutor—to uncover the truth and bring justice to those responsible…by finding the missing boy named Oscar.
Oscar begins at the incredible discovery of a witness to the 1982 Dos Erres massacre that finally makes it possible for civil rights activists to seek a modicum of justice. Director Suffern focuses on the meticulous forensic detective work and the relentless efforts by activists and lawyers who patiently worked to build a case and bring the perpetrators to justice. Nearly 30 years after the massacre, Oscar Ramirez (living in the US) receives an unexpected phone call and learns of his tragic past and potential importance to the forgotten people of Dos Erres. D: Ryan Suffern, US, 2016, 1h 40m
Part of the Dartmouth Film Society series Reel Change and programmed in conjunction with the course Migration Stories (FS 47)
