Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth

Gr 10 Up—The film follows the lives of six Maya individuals residing in the Central American nation of Guatemala and the Mexican state of Chiapas. The hardships faced by indigenous people—drug addiction, racial discrimination, the depletion of their natural resources, and even genocide—and the comfort they get from their spirituality and traditions are presented. The men and women, all younger adults, tell their stories on camera with no independent narration. They do not speak English, so it is necessary to view with subtitles. The visual quality is very good, which does a great service to the stunning natural landscapes, the vibrant native dress, and the awe-inspiring ancient Mayan architecture. The audio quality shines when listening to the musical performances. There is good material here to stimulate discussions about the importance of preserving tradition and the planet's resources. However, the film's length makes it feel a bit redundant and may make it unsuitable for classroom viewing. A little more history to frame the subjects' experiences in context as well as statistics to support the statements made would have been helpful. Teachers should be aware of the description of a brutal attack that ends in a rape and murder.—Ryan Henry, Daviess County Public Library, Owensboro, KYT