¡Las Sandinistas!
Directed by Jenny Murray
¡Las Sandinistas! reveals the untold stories of Nicaraguan women warriors and social revolutionaries who shattered barriers to lead combat and social reform during Nicaragua’s 1979 Sandinista Revolution, the ensuing US-backed Contra War, and documents their leadership in the continuing struggle for justice today. The film portrays a magical moment in world history when thousands of female rebel fighters transformed society’s definition of womanhood and leadership. Nicaraguan women from every social class fought on the front lines on an unprecedented scale in the Sandinista rebel army, and after the defeat of the brutal Somoza dictatorship, these same women pioneered groundbreaking nationwide medical, social, and education programs. Today, as the current Sandinista government is erasing these women's stories of heroism, social reform, and military accomplishments from history books, these same women are fighting to reclaim history - and are once again leading inspiring popular movements for equality and democracy.
World Premiere
2018 SXSW Film Festival, Documentary Feature Competition
Reviews
"Women who fought and died for the Sandinistas tell stories about the triumphs--and failures--of the Nicaraguan revolution in this fascinating feminist documentary."
-Screen Anarchy
"A rousing, tribute to the female members of Nicaragua’s revolutionary Sandinista party."
-The Hollywood Reporter
"!Las Sandinistas! is Jenny Murray’s first feature-length documentary and a fascinating tale chronicling the rise and fall of the revolutionary group that overthrew the Nicaraguan government. Shifting from the viewpoint of the various lead subjects, !Las Sandinistas! elevates its subject matter beyond mere footnote in the Iran Contra debacle, giving us powerful peek into the female half of the revolution."
-Rotten Tomatoes
"This is one of the best documentaries I have seen in a while, and I hope gets seen enough to make it into contention for next year’s Academy Awards. It’s certainly Oscar-worthy. If this is the best movie I see at SXSW this year, I will have had a great festival."
-Graphic Policy
Awards
- Sao Paulo International Film Festival "Jury Prize – Best Film – New Directors Competition"
- Sao Paulo International Film Festival "Audience Award for Best Foreign Documentary"
- CineLatino Film Festival Audience Award
- SXSW LUNA(R) CHICKEN & EGG AWARD - DOCUMENTARY - Special Jury Recognition
