Tepú

The inhabitants of Mexico City may not think about it daily, but the spot they live on used to be the centre of Aztec culture until the 16th century. How does a traditional Indian look at the gigantic metropolis, where millions of mestizos live? Filmmaker Juan Francisco Urrusti visited the capital of Mexico with the old shaman Tepú. The result is a cultural clash, which makes it clear that there is a wide gap between the traditional Indian vision on world and life and the modern world. "The city is ill", the Indian thinks, and proceeds to say that the cause lies with the 'half-breeds', the mestizos, who do not lead a 'holy life'. A mestizo who suffers from diabetes is told that his disease is his punishment for renouncing the gods. The shaman founds his wisdom on his dreams, which he interprets as divine revelations. In his film, director Urrusti confronts his own views with Tep£'s. For example, he sees the making of films as his way of dreaming. The filmmaker may regularly be in two minds about his views, Tep£ remains firm in his beliefs: "We are the chosen and preferred ones. Mankind survives thanks to us." (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)