“Landfall” is coming to PBS. A press release announced that “POV” snagged U.S. broadcast rights to Cecilia Aldarondo’s documentary tracing the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, and will air it as part of the series’ 34th season, which kicks off June 2021.
Described as “taking a holistic look at Post-María Puerto Rico,” “Landfall” “adopts an interconnected episodic structure focusing on the unique stories of farmers, fishermen, educators, real estate agents, and newcomers alike, everyone eager to rebuild.” The doc sees the island grappling with “a devastated infrastructure and multi-billion dollar debt, [while] outside investors descend-not to bail out communities, but to cash in. The next generation of Puerto Ricans find themselves at an inflection point between the dream of a socialist utopia and the reality of recolonization. The new Puerto Rico poses a question of global urgency: when the world falls apart, what does a just recovery look like?”
“‘Landfall’ is a cautionary tale about unjust recovery, and what happens when powerful interests try to privatize public services in the wake of disaster,” said Aldarondo. “Now that we’re all facing the biggest disaster of our lifetimes, we need public media like ‘POV’ to champion the visionary, ethical, and independent media we need for a healthy society. I can’t think of a better home for my film.”
Chris White, executive producer of “POV” added, “Cecilia’s masterpiece is both a sharp condemnation of the continued colonial exploitation of Puerto Rico and a warm embrace of the land and her people. Rendered with a singular vision and deep affection, you’ll be swept into solidarity with these native Puerto Ricans who resist and rebuild.”
“‘Landfall’ is an expression of the impotence, grief, and rage that I have been carrying with me since Hurricane María hit Puerto Rico in 2017,” Aldarondo told us. “My wheelchair-bound grandmother died six months after the storm, and I now count her as one of the thousands of unnecessary deaths that María caused. I didn’t grow up in Puerto Rico; like many Puerto Ricans, I am the product of a diaspora that was forced upon us by economic challenges. In making this film, I was driven by a desire to confront a massive abyss in my own understanding of Puerto Rican history and culture as a way of addressing deep colonial wounds,” she explained.
Aldarondo’s debut documentary, “Memories of a Penitent Heart,” was also broadcast on “POV.”
“Landfall” made its world premiere at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, and is set to screen at DOC NYC later this month.
Check out a trailer for “Landfall” below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qAAYVPJhoI&feature=youtu.be
