In the film Rain Crisis, the protagonist Sebastian in his film shows the economic oppression and life-threatening Indians faced by Columbus and his party. In this case, resistance was the only option for the Indians. The movie within the movie shows how they save their mates. Colonial history must have been filled with similar rebellions. From the fact that colonialism lasted for more than 400 years, it is not difficult to see that these rebellions, big or small, did not succeed in overthrowing the colonial government, but were submerged by the long river of history.
Likewise, the Bolivian society depicted in the film shows the economic oppression of the Quechua people as a result of the privatization of their water supply. They had to fight for the right to water and the right to live, just as the Indians did hundreds of years ago. At the end of the film, the Quechua successfully drive out the multinational corporation. Looking at similar events in different periods, the economic oppression of the local people by the government is the same, and the resistance of the local people is the same. So, here's the question: Why did the Columbus-era rebellion fail, but the Bolivian one in 2000 succeeded?
Unlike the Columbus period in the film, the government of Bolivia in 2000 was democratic. In the movies in the movies, the centralized Spanish king rules the colony. Although Bolivia is a democratic country, it had a monarchy during the colonial period and a military dictatorship period after independence. Therefore, the democratic government of Bolivia is not fully democratic. The oppression of the people still exists. However, since this so-called democratic government is ultimately elected by the people, those policies that are strongly against the will of the people may still be changed. That said, the Bolivian system of government in 2000 provided a breeding ground for rebellion.
Obviously, this possibility alone is not enough. There are many reasons why the Quechuas were able to actually take action. One of the reasons is that, over the long course of history, human beings have faced oppression in all aspects, and as a result, the means of maintaining rights have continued to increase. During the Columbus period, Columbus and his team arrived suddenly. They were the first strangers to come to the American continent. The Indians in the film look dazed in the face of sudden exploitation. Unlike the Indians who suddenly faced oppression, the Quechua people, as government officials in the film explain, have a long history of exploitation. In the continuous persecution and resistance, people found effective means to safeguard their rights.
Ultimately, the Quechua won the war over water. However, this is just one of the many battles the Quechuas have to go through. The film reveals the problem of cheap labor in Bolivian society. The Quechua people have been oppressed for a long time as laborers. So why don't the Chuyas resist the exploitation of their employers as they did when they resisted the government?
One important reason is that the social system is the culprit of cheap labor. This status quo cannot be attributed to individual employers alone. Therefore, facing the problem of cheap labor, what the Quechua people need to resist, like the water war, is the system and the policies formulated by the government. Perhaps after the water war is over, the Quechuas will start a new, similar war dedicated to solving the problem of cheap labor. As Daniel says at the end of the movie, the Quechua are still struggling to survive through the cracks, and the most challenging part is just beginning.
View more about Even the Rain reviews
