- Welcome to POV.
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of PBS Wisconsin's Director's Cut.
"The people rule and the leaders obey.
That has to be reality, not just talk."
That is a quote from
former Colombian presidential candidate Francia Márquez
in tonight's documentary
Igualada: Refusing to Know Your Place.
The film gives us an up-close and personal look
at the passion, charisma, and tenacity
of this documentary's main character,
who, as you will see very soon,
has an unwavering passion for justice.
Francia Márquez is an environmental activist,
human rights advocate, lawyer, politician,
and is currently serving as the vice president of Colombia.
She is only the second woman
to hold the office of vice president
and the first Black or Afro-Colombian woman to do so.
She also serves as the country's minister
for equality and equity.
For Márquez, taking action is in her blood.
When mining companies were running rampant
from 2002 to 2018
and stealing many of the natural resources in Colombia,
Márquez took action.
At age 13, she became an activist
and protested an illegal mine being built near a river
that was the main source of water in her community.
Tonight's leading lady was an integral part of lawsuits
against these international companies,
lawsuits which led to death threats
against activists, including Márquez.
She even survived an assassination attempt.
But the efforts of she and her fellow activists
eventually paid off and were successful.
Márquez was recognized internationally for her efforts.
This gave her the confidence to launch a presidential campaign.
It was during this time she often heard the word "Igualada,"
a derogatory term used toward other races, genders, or classes
in an effort to keep people down
by making them feel they aren't worthy enough
to fight for rights they deserve.
By using the term as the title of tonight's film,
producers hope to reclaim the word,
making its negative meaning less impactful, if not useless.
Director Juan Mejia met Márquez in 2006
when she was a community organizer.
She was still a teenager
and risking her life for her community to protest injustices.
Meija said the fact that someone so young
was willing to risk everything had a lasting impact on him.
He could tell right away she had on-camera chops,
as both Maria and Márquez were part
of another documentary project called La Toma when they met.
When Márquez decided to run for president in 2020,
she wanted Mejia to document it.
He jumped at the chance,
knowing that this charismatic leader
would provide excellent material for a documentarian.
Juan Mejia says ultimately, this film is about hope and triumphs.
Thank goodness Francia Márquez doesn't know her place.
Iguadala: Refusing to Know Your Place
starts now on PBS Wisconsin, your home for independent film.