Yachapa, the new film directed by Sandra Winther and set in the Andes, stands out for its touching respect for craftsmanship and ancestry. As well as being a great piece of filmmaking, it is also a revival of the grain, texture and physical presence of the craft. Winther, known for her keen eye for intimate portraits and documentaries, takes Yachapa beyond the realm of promotional content, transforming it into a work of art.
The crucial decision that shapes the entire craft of the film is the use of 16mm film, which gives the Peruvian Andes and its subjects great emotional depth. The grain of the film surrounds the mountains, the hands of the artisans and the face of actress Nathalie Kelley in a familiar and appreciative veil, giving the film the appearance of a memory. Winther’s work is based on persistence, such as the editing, which moves at a slow pace, allowing the viewer to pause and observe. The camera lingers on the hands of Quechua weavers and alpaqueros families, transforming every single act of spinning or weaving into a ritual.
‘Yachapa’, a Quechua term meaning ‘echo’, explores the idea of a return to our roots. The film explores what wisdom may have been lost in the course of our rapid progress. Winther uses Kelley’s personal experience, born in Lima and raised in Australia, as a bridge to connect the past (the mountains, the looms) with the present (the journey, the reflection).
What gives this short film its relevance is Winther’s mastery in combining sensory observations with emotionally rich narration. Through João de Botelho’s cinematography and Yasmine Meddour’s original soundtrack, which creates a soundscape that balances Andean tradition and electronica, Winther constructs a narrative about the value of craftsmanship and its resilience in the face of modernity.