Macho
In 1998 Managua, Nicaragua became host to one of the most publicised and controversial cases of sexual abuse to hit Latin America, when former President Daniel Ortega stood accused of sexually abusing his step-daughter whose revelations shocked the nation. ‘Macho’ follows Xavier Munos of the Nicaraguan group Men Against Violence, who invent new ways to tackle violence against women.
Women in Nicaragua have worked for years raising awareness and have encouraged these men to finally take some responsibility in healing themselves. This environment has created a small group of men that use their activist sensibility and take responsibility for stopping the injustices they carry out against women and children. The film follows the steps taken by the all-male group Men Against Violence to provide a platform for change that is initiated and supported by other men. The support and openness of these men encourages change, and provides alternatives to the isolating culture of machismo, that abets violence and abusive behaviour.
– Helen Wickham, Glasgow Women’s Library Newsletter, Spring 2000
Description compiled in 2026 by Jess Higgins using materials from the Cinenova paper archive.