On the 26/27th of September 2014, Mexican students from the "Raúl Isidro Burgos" Teacher Training School in Ayotzinapa were attacked by the police in Iguala, Guerrero. 6 people, 3 of them students, were murdered and 43 students were forcibly disappeared.
Many years before, Scottish artist and filmmaker, Jan Nimmo, had travelled extensively in the state of Guerrero to meet local artisans and musicians. Jan was devastated to hear of the attack on the students and in October 2014 embarked on a series of portraits of each of the 43 students who had been "disappeared". Her aim was to emphasise the human face of the number 43 and to raise awareness, wherever she could, about the appallingly high number of disappeared people in Mexico (25,000+ since 2007).
These students were training to be the teachers of the future, working in rural indigenous villages and towns throughout Guerrero, one of Mexico's poorest and most violent states. The portraits, completed almost a year after the terrible events of September 2014, are a tribute to the students and their families. For this short film Jan has collaborated with Ro Casares and Colectivo Mambotango. Ro's song, "Comapñero", accompanies the images. This song was chosen by the students' families for a solidarity album called "De Vuelta a Casa" (the song originally featured on the album Jardín de Flores).
From Scotland and Mexico, with love x
If you would like to arrange a solidarity screening or exhibition contact Jan: jan@jannimmo.com
To view all the images visit:
flickr.com/photos/jannimmo/albums/72157656818144160
Thanks to Paul Barham, Ro Casares & Colectivo Mambotango, "Ere" Alma Eréndira Sandoval Carrillo, Andrea Arroyo and Nerea Bello.
