Ukuku

by Gastón Vizcarra
20’, Perù, 2009

The Ukuku is a mythological personage of the Andes, half bear and half man, whose primary function within the Andean cosmic vision is to ascend to the snowy peaks and bring down ice, which is considered sacred in many Peruvian villages. This personage is the protagonist of the “Qoyllur Riti” (snow star) festivity, celebrated every year in the Sinakara ravine, near Cuzco, where tens of thousands of pilgrims gather to see the armies of Ukuku climb the highest peaks to retrieve the sacred ice. The film tells the story of an Ukuku who reaches the peak, but does not find ice. Desperate because he has not accomplished his sacred mission, and guided by the wise Mama Coca, the poor Ukuku crosses all of Peru in search of ice. His voyage takes him close to modern life on the Peruvian coast, where he finally finds ice, and also his unexpected destiny.

Gastón Vizcarra
Born in 1976 in Lima, Peru, and interested in narration and screenwriting, he began his career as a theatrical actor before joining the company of the Peruvian director Francisco Lombardi. He continued his activity as a screenwriter, which in 2001 earned him a First Prize at the National Film Commission’s Annual Film Project awards, and as director for the Belgian-American company, Brosens & Woodworth.