Ep 3. Fire From the Mountain

Fire From the Mountain is an episode from the first season of the award-winning documentary series POV. The episode tells the story of an indigenous community in Nicaragua that fought against the U.S. backed Contra rebels during the country's civil war in the 1980s.

The film follows the community's leader, Dora Maria Tellez, a university student turned guerrilla fighter, who led the attack on the National Palace in 1978 and played a key role in the Sandinista revolution that ousted dictator Anastasio Somoza. However, as the Sandinista government came to power, Tellez became disillusioned with the party's authoritarian tendencies and the suppression of civil liberties. She and other dissidents were expelled from the party and formed the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) to fight for democracy and social justice within the framework of the Sandinista revolution.

As the civil war intensified in the 1980s, the MRS became one of the Contras' main targets, and Tellez went into hiding in the mountains along with other MRS members. There, they formed a community based on principles of equality, self-sufficiency, and respect for indigenous traditions. The film shows how they lived, farmed, and organized themselves to resist the Contra attacks and government persecution.

Fire From the Mountain provides a rare glimpse into the lives and struggles of Nicaragua's indigenous communities, who were often caught in the crossfire of the civil war. The film features interviews with Tellez and other MRS members, as well as footage of the Contra attacks and government propaganda. It also shows the community's efforts to preserve their language, culture, and environment in the face of destruction and displacement.

The film raises important questions about the role of revolutionary movements in promoting democracy and human rights, and the dangers of authoritarianism and violence. It also highlights the resilience and creativity of marginalized communities that resist oppression and build alternative visions of society.

Fire From the Mountain is a powerful and inspiring documentary that sheds light on a little-known chapter of Nicaragua's history, and offers a message of hope and solidarity for people struggling against injustice and inequality worldwide.