A Freedom Struggle: Looking for Lucrecia Pérez

A Freedom Struggle: Looking for Lucrecia Pérez is a feature-length documentary by artist and filmmaker Génesis Valenzuela, which delves into the colonial wound and its lasting impact on the present through the exploration of the human body, identity, race, and representation in the Antilles. At its core, the documentary revolves around the 1930 murder of Lucrecia Pérez, an indigenous Curaçaoan woman whose body was brutally mutilated. Valenzuela's investigation into Pérez's case becomes a catalyst for examining the complex history of colonialism, its effects on the human experience, and the ways in which these echoes continue to shape identity, culture, and society in the present. Valenzuela's approach to telling Pérez's story is unconventional and avant-garde. Rather than adhering to a traditional documentary format, she chooses to incorporate elements of performance art, incorporating the market space as a site of reflection and inquiry. Valenzuela draws parallels between the pictorial representations of the colonial era and the images and sounds of the present, creating a dynamic and immersive experience that blurs the lines between past and present. Through the examination of Pérez's case, Valenzuela sheds light on the darker aspects of Curaçao's history, specifically the brutal suppression of indigenous populations by European colonizers. The documentary confronts the viewer with the brutal reality of colonialism, exposing the ways in which the human body was subject to physical and emotional abuse, effectively erasing indigenous identities and cultures. Valenzuela's artistic vision humanizes Pérez's story, restoring her agency and dignity, and bringing attention to the erasure of indigenous voices from historical records. One of the primary focuses of the documentary is the performative gesture, as Valenzuela explores the tension between the colonial gaze and the self-representation of indigenous bodies. By dragging the colonial gaze through the market space, Valenzuela forces the viewer to confront the visceral nature of colonialism, particularly in the way it dissects and categorizes the human body. This performative gesture is a powerful commentary on the legacy of colonialism, highlighting the ways in which identity, race, and representation have been manipulated and controlled. Valenzuela uses a range of artistic mediums, from painting to installation, to convey the complexity of colonialism and its ongoing effects on the present. Her use of sound design and cinematography adds to the layers of meaning, creating an immersive experience that draws the viewer into the heart of the story. Through Valenzuela's artistic lens, the viewer is invited to participate in the performative gesture, becoming complicit in the struggle to overcome the colonial wound and reclaim indigeneity. The documentary is also a testament to the power of testimony and the importance of preserving indigenous heritage. Valenzuela works closely with indigenous communities on Curaçao, including the Curaçao Museum's Department of Archaeology, to contextualize Pérez's case within the broader history of colonialism. By involving community members in the creative process, the documentary serves as a form of collective testimony, amplifying the voices of indigenous peoples and rendering their stories visible. Ultimately, A Freedom Struggle: Looking for Lucrecia Pérez is a tribute to the power of the human body to resist, as well as a searing critique of colonialism's enduring effects on identity, culture, and representation. Through Valenzuela's innovative approach to documentary filmmaking, the viewer is transported to the heart of the struggle for freedom and indigeneity, confronting the colonial wound head-on and witnessing the indomitable spirit that drives indigenous communities forward in their quest for recognition and justice.