Spanish with English subtitles
With Juan Torres, Roberto Ugás, Alejandro Camino, José Carlos Vilcapoma, Sonia Guillén
Peru stands as the cradle of numerous highly nutritious products celebrated globally as ‘superfoods.’ Despite its profound agricultural and cultural legacy, contemporary Peru grapples with elevated rates of malnutrition and dietary patterns that often neglect these indigenous crops.
The ancient inhabitants of Peru demonstrated remarkable prowess in domesticating and cultivating a diverse array of nutritious crops, facilitated by the country’s unparalleled spectrum of climates and ecosystems.
Hatun Phaqcha, The Healing Land underscores the critical significance of preserving and responsibly stewarding these foods. It provokes contemplation on the region’s susceptibility amidst pressures from a monoculture-driven market and the looming specter of climate change.
Press
“A well-crafted and informative documentary that raises awareness about Peru's biodiversity through the preservation of native food products. Hatun Phaqcha, the Healing Land does not rely on a nationalist message or seek to exploit the mystical discourse of Andean or Amazonian cosmogony from an exotic perspective. Its message is clear: Peru's biodiversity is being underutilized.” – Carlos Esquives, Cinencuentro
Notes on Film
“This documentary emerges from a profound concern for health and the safeguarding of Peru’s food resources. Its primary objective is to promote the preservation, cultivation, and optimal consumption of superfoods that constitute a vital part of the country’s rich biodiversity. Disseminating knowledge about their nutritional benefits and the necessity of their conservation can play a crucial role in addressing Peru’s high levels of malnutrition—and, indeed, malnutrition worldwide.
To illuminate the origins and significance of Peru’s biodiversity, I sought the expertise of scientists who could elucidate its millennia-old roots and profound connection to cultural traditions. Equally important was highlighting the invaluable—yet frequently overlooked—contributions of farmers who have safeguarded this agricultural and cultural legacy for generations. Pre-Columbian civilizations revered the fertility of the earth, recognizing it as a daily miracle upon which both health and life depended. Through the domestication of plants and crops, they forged a historical and cultural inheritance that was hard-won over thousands of years—an enduring privilege that remains underappreciated today.
The film also explores the ancestral bond between humanity and the land—a relationship of reverence and devotion that persists in Peru. Farmers and experts provide insights that affirm this struggle is far from lost; much can still be done to confront the crisis. Success stories underscore that small-scale agriculture is not merely viable but indispensable to our collective survival.
The documentary’s themes emerged organically—determining whom to interview and identifying the true protagonists of this narrative—but at its core, the starting point was always the farmers, the unsung heroes of our history. They deserve recognition, gratitude, and unwavering support from all Peruvians. This film is a call to action, urging audiences to acknowledge the genetic and agricultural heritage passed down through generations and to seek ways to preserve it before it fades into oblivion.
Is the rich agrodiversity we inherited from our ancestors destined to disappear? Was our aspiration merely an illusion? Are we engaged in a futile battle?”
– Delia Ackerman, Director
