Weeping gods: a new documentary on the disappearing glaciers in Peru
The tropical glaciers of Peru embody more than just geographical formations. They are integral to the cultural lifestyles and identities of Peruvian communities.
When I heard the term ‘tropical glaciers’ for the first time in the trailer for APU: the Weeping gods, I was fascinated to learn about the delicate balance of environmental circumstances in which they exist and astonished to discover the extent of their significance to the lives of local people and wildlife. The importance of these glaciers for the communities of the Cordillera Blanca region is woven into many aspects of their wellbeing, from the spiritual and cultural to matters of sustainability and survival.
APU: the Weeping gods is an interactive virtual reality (VR) documentary experience produced by Chouette Films alongside Jemma Wadham, a British expert on all things glacial. The title of the documentary is drawn from the way in which locals see these glaciers as living grandparents who speak to them and carry spirits. The constantly looming threat of climate change, and the havoc it has already caused in these amazing glacial mountain regions, places this relationship in danger and even threatens to destroy the ‘weeping gods’. The glacial ice is melting ever faster into rivers and oceans as a result of greenhouse emissions. Therefore, a broader question on the ways to tackle the climate crisis must be explored.
These tropical glaciers are the beating hearts of the valleys that they look down over, providing an invaluable resource of fresh water to the communities and ecosystems surrounding them. Yet, due to the effects of climate change, they are now posing an ever-growing risk to those very communities which consider them as an essential lifeline. Jemma Wadham explains in the documentary that these risks include the release of toxins into the rivers, as well as flooding and water shortages. On top of these devastating consequences is the threat that by the end of the 21st century, it is predicted that many of the glaciers will be entirely gone, leaving disastrous implications for the local communities and the natural environment.
Inspired by the CASADA project, influenced by Wadham’s book Ice Rivers, funded by UKRI and shortlisted for the Richard Jeffries Award, APU: the Weeping Gods urges us to recognise the slowly vanishing parts of our world and strive to protect them. So, how can we do this? The climate crisis must be faced head on and taken seriously by everyone around the globe, including leaders from all nations. For the sake of these tropical glaciers and for many other tragic climate change stories around the world, we must all come together to tackle the climate crisis. Take the first step by watching the documentary to find out more about the threats facing these communities and what can be done.
APU: the Weeping gods is delivered as an interactive virtual reality film in which you will be transported to the very location of Shallap glacier in Peru and invited to witness the changing landscapes in detail. This VR technology is highly transformative and without it, it is impossible to truly capture the magnificent and unique environment of the glaciers.
APU: the Weeping gods is a documentary directed by Chouette Films in collaboration with Professor Jemma Wadham of The Arctic University of Norway and Professor Raul Loayza Muro of Universidad Peruana Cayetano. Chouette Films is based at SOAS, University of London and is a green film production company focused on sustainable ways to deliver academic research concepts in the form of film.
Chouette Films invites you to the premiere of the film taking place at the RAI Film Festival in Bristol on the 23rd and 24th of March 2023.
These events are open for all to watch. We are also accepting any interest for you to organise a screening of the film, so please get in touch at info@chouettefilms.co.uk. In the meantime, catch the trailer here. Don’t forget to find out more about Jemma Wadham and her book, too!
