A boy arrives in Lima speaking only Quechua. The city doesn't care.
Gregorio, a boy from the impoverished countryside of Peru emigrates to Lima, the capital city. Experiencing a cultural shock due to the chaotic nature of the city, he must challenge himself to learn Spanish, since his native tongue is Quechua, and survive in this whole prejudiced new world. A hostile world for poor immigrants.
Acting
Marino León de la Torre's silent suffering speaks volumes.
Direction
Neorealist style captures 80s Lima with documentary urgency.
Director
Alejandro Legaspi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during Peru's internal conflict, the film was suppressed for depicting indigenous poverty the government wanted invisible. It barely circulated outside festivals until restoration in 2010s.
Gregorio never fully speaks Spanish on screen — the film itself becomes complicit in his erasure, forcing urban audiences to experience his isolation.
PE
