Review of Innocent Voices

I just finished watching "Voces Inocentes" with my family, we actually started watching the "movie" with 4 people and ended up with 3. The fourth person is my domestic partner, and this movie was so disturbing to him that he actually had to leave the room. He later explained to me that it brought back a lot of difficult and emotional memories. (He's from San Salvador, born and raised. (In the middle of the war.)I, on the other hand, am of Purepecha decent raised among the "protected" comforts and privileges of the "U.S. Ghettos," although I have visited El Salvador, have many Salvadorean acquaintances and friends, I cannot say I personally know, nor much less understand the harshness and impact of "war" so for me this "movie" was IMPACTING!, although not surprising.) At first, my partner and I were both upset and insulted at the fact that this movie was not filmed in El Salvador, nor played out by salvadorean actors, nor at least meant to sound and look Salvadorean, but we later concluded that we should at least appreciate the fact that SOMEONE took the time to TRY to inform the world about a crucial point in history from "another country" not just ONE country, best of all without making anything about war look too heroic. We also ended up assuming that perhaps because of its sensitive nature, the screenwriter might have had to undergo many barriers just to get this to be filmed, and maybe Altavista in Mexico was the only one willing to take the risk?? Although, "I" personally greatly appreciated the "movie" mainly because, it SHARES one person's individual experience and it also unknowingly makes an attempt to educate this society on the realities of war and its effects on those caught in the middle of it; my partner says he did not like the inaccuracies in the military's "recruiting" tactics because from his personal experience he saw the guerrilla, not the army, recruiting young boys from within the schools. On the other hand, my partner's brother and my best friend's father were both "recruited" into the army before the age of 15. (My question now is: Does "accuracy" even exist in personal experiences?") It is my personal belief that because we are all individuals, we all have VALID individual experiences; therefore, we have no right to undermine anyone's personal experience, instead we should try to analyze and learn from them and try to balance our information and personal way of thinking and seeing things by allowing ourselves to be exposed to and actually listening to all sides of every story.

I personally believe this "movie" is worth watching, at least for the "mere" purpose of diverse cultural and historical education, and for planting the seed of empathy and concern for those who suffer EVERY DAY because of war and savage human ignorance.

"Watch it with an open mind and a caring heart."