Carmen Carrascal
‘Carmen Carrascal’ is a documentary portrait of an outstanding rural craftswoman in Colombia who weaves and markets baskets in order to raise her nine children. Although Carmen sells only to one outlet – government craft shops – she does not receive a salary; instead she is paid piece-work rates and the money must also pay for all her materials and transport. As costs rise, Carmen earns less each year.
Through the course of this film, we come to know Carmen as a courageous and independent woman who speaks frankly, ignoring the protests of her husband when he says she is too independent, too much her own boss. 'I'm happy when I see my daughters reading' she says, ‘...their father did not want to send them [to school] because he never went'. As well as passing on her weaving skills to her children, Carmen insists that they receive an education – especially the girls. As for Carmen, when she isn't weaving or riding the mule into town with her baskets, she is grinding flour, fetching water, cooking and managing the family.
Beautifully shot over a period of months ‘Carmen Carrascal’ presents a vivid and moving picture of life high in the mountains of Colombia.
Description source: Circles catalogue (1987). Edited by Jenny Holland and Jane Harris.
