Breaking the Silence (Romper el Silencio) Documentaries and Short Films

"For more than 60 years, the confrontation between guerrillas, paramilitary groups and the State has left a long trail of death and damage throughout Colombia. This armed conflict has marked the lives of Colombians, and understanding it is a task as difficult as it is necessary."

This documentary series offers an in-depth analysis of the armed conflict in Colombia in an effort to create an understanding of Colombian history. It seeks to allow the audience to get to know those who have fought in the Colombian war and those who have suffered because of it. The series of three documentaries uses a mixed narrative documentary style combining archival footage, animations, testimonies, and original interviews to unravel the origins of the conflict and its consequences, while also showing the paths taken to resolve it. It explores questions like: How did this situation come about? What actually happened? Why didn't Colombia react?

The series forms part of the Breaking the Silence Edutainment Strategy (see Related Summaries, below) that has as its objective to promote conversations about the armed conflict and the truth around the conflict in the daily lives of Colombians. Together with other multimedia products (including an adventure television series and podcasts), the documentaries are designed to promote reflection and to strengthen the knowledge and commitment of Colombian adolescents, young people, families, and teachers to support reconciliation and build more democratic thinking and actions, as well as respect for the differences and the rights of others.

The three 25-minute documentaries are:

• State: Although the illegal armed groups left millions of victims in Colombia, the State also played a role in this. This film unveils the causes and consequences of this violence. Click here for more information (in Spanish).
• Insurgencies: During the 1960s, the main guerrilla groups emerged in Colombia, and the armed struggle became the path of many men and women. This film explores the origins of the insurgencies, their causes and consequences. Click here for more information (in Spanish).
• Paramilitarism: In the counterinsurgency warfare, other illegal armed actors emerged: the paramilitaries, who shared the same objectives as the State and its armed forces. This film delves into the phenomenon of paramilitarism in Colombia, one of the most nefarious chapters in its history. Click here for more information (in Spanish).

The series of longer documentaries is accompanied by 17 short films consisting of personal testimonies and expert opinions that are also intended to contribute to breaking the silence on the root causes of the armed conflict.

These documentaries will be available when the Breaking the Silence Strategy is launched.