Tracing Women’s Existence through Documentaries: En Camino - México, Machismo and Clouds

Abstract

For the 5th International Women Directors Film Festival, an interview was conducted with the directors of En Camino - México, Machismo and Clouds (2021), aiming to contribute to feminist film theory and practice. En Camino - México, Machismo and Clouds , a medium-length documentary by Isabella Cortese, Federico Fenucci, and Guiditta Vettese, addresses the issues of sexual harassment, kidnapping, physical and psychological violence, and the challenges faced by women and children in Mexico’s public sphere. These issues are depicted through the testimonies of Mexican witnesses, highlighting the legal and ethical injustices that hinder women from fully experiencing life. The documentary seeks to reveal the struggles faced by Mexican women by presenting their voices and stories. The film concludes with images of resilient women smiling, symbolizing their strong existence and offering hope, particularly to female viewers, as evidence that women will not relinquish their fight against male violence. The documentary’s significance to feminist film theory lies in its explicit portrayal of masculine domination over womanhood and the persistence of patriarchal viewpoints in contemporary society. By revisiting issues and concepts discussed by feminist film theorists, the documentary emphasizes the representation of womanhood in films. From this perspective, En Camino - México, Machismo and Clouds contributes to feminist film practice through its feminist approach in depicting women and reflecting on their ontological existence. The documentary notes that 801 women were killed in 2020, a 13% increase from 2018, underscoring the urgent need for women to unite and support each other amid rising violence. The women featured in the documentary represent the global challenges faced by women, with the hope that such representations will eventually become obsolete.