In the early 1970s, Peru underwent significant political, economic, and social upheavals following the coup led by General Juan Velasco Alvarado in 1968. Under this military regime, an agrarian reform was implemented, industrialization unfolded on multiple fronts, and numerous social movements emerged, including student protests, workers' strikes, and protests from indigenous groups. The informal economy was pervasive, with thousands of people working in unregulated sectors to meet their basic needs.

It was in this context that Carlos Ferrand, freshly back to Peru after studying filmmaking in Belgium, became a cinematographer and filmmaker for the government. Coming from an affluent family and aware of his privileged position, Ferrand decided to leave the comfort of his home to settle in a shantytown in Chorrillos, on the coast of Lima. It was here that he turned his attention to social inequalities during this pivotal moment when the promise of social justice was at the heart of political discourse, both in Peru and globally.

Filmed in 1973 and finalized in 2021, Mecánicos piratas de Lima follows a group of men working as car mechanics on the outskirts of Lima. The moving portrait of these men focuses on the ingenuity and resourcefulness required to survive in conditions of great social instability. By revisiting this material filmed nearly 50 years ago, Ferrand unveils the richness and potential of these archives that bear witness to life at that time. A close-up of people's daily lives that literally comes back to life through meticulous editing and exceptional sound design. A profoundly emotional and impactful moment of cinema!

Jason Burnham
Tënk editorial manager