Full details
Panamanian director Ana Elena Tejeira has begun production on her new film "Culebra Cut" ("Corte Culebra"), which highlights the return of the Panama Canal Zone to Panamanian sovereignty in 2000, following a century of American occupation. The film stars Daniel Jiménez Cacho, known for roles in films such as Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s "Bardo," alongside non-professional actor D'Angelo Simons, who in real life works as a firefighter in Colón Province.
Plot and Central Theme
The film’s narrative centers on a group of Panamanian soldiers entering the former Panama Canal Zone for the first time after the end of US occupation. It focuses on Ernesto (Simons), a young soldier tasked with cleaning the area surrounding an old military school near an artificial lake that flooded the region and displaced entire communities. While exploring, Ernesto encounters a mysterious woman who leads the "Culebra" community, which resisted displacement by retreating into old hideouts and mined areas, forcing him to confront both his personal wounds and the wounds of the land itself.
Historical Background and Film Significance
Tejeira explains that her personal experience crossing the forbidden zone during childhood left a profound impact on her, as the area had been under US occupation for more than 90 years, effectively dividing the country in two. She adds that the film reflects Ernesto’s internal struggle, as someone with a mixed identity living in a land where he feels a disconnected sense of belonging. The director further emphasizes that the film has special relevance amid renewed US military presence in the region, with ongoing joint exercises and the continued use of former US-controlled military bases.
These developments coincide with expanded cooperation between Panama and the United States, marked by increased joint military exercises and use of Panamanian sites under US control, illustrating the ongoing American influence in the region despite the formal end of occupation.
International Support and Co-production
"Culebra Cut" is supported by various international entities and produced as a collaboration between companies from Panama, France, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands. It receives funding from institutions including Arte France, the Panamanian Film Fund, the French National Cinema Center, the World Cinema Fund, the Flanders-Wallonia Union Fund, and the Hubert Bals Fund. The project has also been developed through prestigious international platforms such as the Locarno Residency and the Venice and Rotterdam film markets.
The 14th edition of the Panama International Film Festival (IFF Panama) will take place from April 9 to 12, where the film is scheduled to be screened.
This news has been reedited based on a report published on variety.com while maintaining the core facts as presented in the original source.