Daughter of Chorolque

Directed by Mi-Sun Park

Traditionally, women of mining villages in Bolivia have only picked off small amounts of ore from stones thrown away outside the mines. But in Chorolque, a South American mining village 5600m above sea level that produces tin, women are permitted to work inside the mines. There are about 20 female miners working among 1000 male mine workers. The first woman to work inside a mine was Pasquala, 18 years ago. Andrea, Carmela, and Carmela’s daughter Rosa now follow in her footsteps. Daughter of Chorolque is a story about how, in the absence of a father, three female miners in Bolivia and their daughters lead hard, painful, but beautiful lives. The women live and work hard, carrying the weight of life, against a backdrop of dazzling beautiful scenery. The camera captures these women’s everyday lives in calm but intense shorts. (HONG Hyosook) 2007 PIFF (Pusan International Film Festival)