PROJECT PROPOSAL—FEDERICO PAGURA DOCUMENTARY(Dirty War Hymns: A Legacy of Hope for Hurting People)

DOCUMENTARY

During the military dictatorship in Argentina (1974-1983), thousands of men, women, and children—by some accounts as many as 30,000—were disappeared by the government, their only threat having been a perceived crossing of the military dictatorship in word or deed. It was during this period that Federico Pagura, a Methodist bishop, fought back with hope. He fought with activism, and his pulpit was a place to speak as a prophet against injustice. Yet what sets Pagura apart is his choice to implement the arts in the pursuit of justice—sacred song in particular. Dirty War Hymns is a documentary that explores the impact of Bishop Federico Pagura in his time—his life and hymns—as well as his indispensable message of resilience for the modern person of faith facing injustice.

We also plan to record an EP album of various hymns penned by Pagura.

PRODUCER

My name is Jared Weatherholtz. I work with a Christian ministry to Hispanic immigrants in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. About ten years ago, while living in Mexico City, I started a hymns project called Abalanzaré with the purpose of preserving the hymns of yesterday for the church of today and tomorrow. To date, we have recorded two albums of hymns that can be heard at www.alabanzare.bandcamp.com.

Last year I was introduced to Pagura’s most famous hymn, “Tenemos Esperanza” (We Have Hope) and was profoundly impacted by the poetry and message of the song, especially the way in which he applied the gospel to his context using traditional tango melodies.

BUDGET

We will be working closely with an established production company in Argentina: casakiev.com. We have developed a budget that we believe to be reasonable without sacrificing the quality of the film. We are seeking to make a movie that stands the test of time and is professional in quality, so as to communicate the message effectively and in a lasting way.

The numbers are (in USD):Production: $40,000Post-production: $20,000Total: $60,000

We plan to fund post-production through a crowdfunding campaign, so our most urgent need is to raise the initial $40,000 in production funds. (See the detailed breakdown of these funds below.) This will allow us to travel to Argentina to film with the bishop and his contemporaries. Today Bishop Pagura is 93 years old and in good health; however, we would like to film with him as soon as possible.

Detailed BudgetProduction and Direction Team $14,000Camera and Sound Team Plus Equipment Rental—Cameras, Sound, and Lights $8,500Domestic Travel and Lodging $5,000International Travel (Air) $4,000Insurance and Administration $2,500Catering $2,500Margin (5%) $2,000Archival Footage Plus Storage Devices $1,500TOTAL $40,000

AUDIENCE

Our principle audience for the film is the Latin American Christian. The Dirty War was a distinct moment in history; yet there are hundreds of thousands of people throughout Latin America living in situations with a similar impact (i.e. gang violence in Honduras and El Salvador, drug cartels and disappeared students in Mexico, government-bought media outlets in Venezuela and Cuba, etc.). Through the legacy and hymns of Bishop Pagura, we hope to inspire the modern-day Christian to live with purpose in the midst of suffering. We want to bring light and hope through Christ to people passing through darkness, answering the question:

How can my faith positively inform struggle in the midst of injustice?

We also want our movie to be accessible to people of all faith traditions, as Pagura’s life reflects a distinct historical and political moment with which many Latin Americans can identify.

DISTRIBUTION

We plan to distribute the movie principally free of charge online through the creation of a webpage specifically designed to stream the film. We will also consider making use of well-known streaming sites, such as YouTube and Vimeo. Our goal is to make the movie easy to find and to watch for anyone in the world.

SUPPORT

Will you consider helping us toward our goal of $40,000 in production funds? If you and/or your church would like to donate, please contact Jared Weatherholtz by email (JaredWeatherholtz@gmail.com) or by telephone (314-378-3152).

Donations are accepted at the following address:Alabanzaré4302 De Tonty St.Apt. 1ESt. Louis, MO 63110United States

TREATMENT

During the Dirty War in Argentina (1974-1983), some 30,000 adults and children were disappeared by the government, their only threat having been a perceived crossing of the military dictatorship in word or deed. Fear drenched society. Hope was sparse. Tears, oppression, and darkness covered the Argentine people.

It was during this period that Federico Pagura, a Methodist bishop, fought back. Yes, he fought with activism. Yes, his pulpit was a place to speak as a prophet against injustice, as the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Desmond Tutu had done in their prospective countries. Yet what sets Pagura apart is his choice to implement the arts in the pursuit of justice—sacred song being his weapon of choice.

During the Dirty War years, Pagura penned a trilogy of hymns around the theme of why we can have hope in the midst of injustice. His answers are not easy, frilly, or naive. They are anthems of faith for a people walking in darkness and longing for light. The hymns center on the person and work of Christ yet connect with relevance to a hurting Argentina. They do not explore spirituality apart from the physical world. Rather, they are anthems of forward movement and progress in the cause for human rights and good for people everywhere.

The film is a glimpse into Pagura’s world—his context and his message—through the gateway of his hymns. In his hometown of Rosario, we interview the now-93-year-old bishop in order to get first-hand knowledge of the writing and impact of the songs. We interview his children to get their perspective on his life and work. We visit the Che Guevara statue—which depicts one of Pagura’s heroes and is dear to his heart, travel to the bar where he and his musical co-laborer Homero Perera publicly played tangos (a provocative move in the time and church tradition to which Pagura belongs), get to know the Museum of Memory, where the director knows Pagura personally, and travel to a clandestine detention and torture center where some of Pagura’s relatives were likely disappeared by the government.

In Buenos Aires, we speak with Nora Cortiñas, a public representative of the organization Mothers of the Plaza of May—the famous matriarchs who have marched regularly for some 40 years, demanding their children be returned to them and not forgotten. Cortiñas lost her son to the government during the Dirty War. She and Bishop Pagura are friends and mutual supporters. We speak with Juan Gattinoni, a fellow Methodist minister who served under Pagura when a terrorist group bombed the church where they were harboring Chilean refugees. We visit a mural by Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel which memorializes Pagura as an important player in the fight for human rights. We visit the theological institution where Pagura studied and later taught classes. While there, we speak with Professor Pablo Sosa, who composed music for several of Pagura’s poems and hymns.

The context of the Dirty War is not entirely unique to Latin America. Dictatorships and government oppression are commonplace in the history books and in our modern world. The mothers and fathers of the 43 disappeared students in Mexico have been fighting for over a year for justice. There are frustrated students in Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru who are poised to fight against institutional darkness. The Black Lives Matter campaign here in the U.S. has been gaining momentum steadily.

Pagura’s story has the potential to fan the flame of activism and personal resilience for people in Latin America and across the globe. His hymns are sung widely throughout Latin American churches, yet his story has never been told in mass media.

The film has the potential to spark hope in oppressed peoples all over the world. Many feel that the government cannot be trusted. Many feel that their voices go unheard and that their efforts are insignificant. Bishop Pagura’s message and place in Argentine history provide hope for those suffering injustice today. The film will call people to peaceful, avid action and meaningful, artistic contribution to the conversation.