Comparsa immerses audiences in the intense world of Ciudad Peronia, Guatemala, where sisters Lesli and Lupe Canela Pérez use art to heal deep wounds. After 41 girls are killed in a State-run “Safe Home” and the government refuses to act, the sisters take matters into their own hands. They rally local youth to create a comparsa: towering puppets, fire-breathing stilt walkers, and thundering drums become weapons of resistance. But publicly breaking the silence surrounding gender violence comes with real risk. As the young performers confront corruption and a system that permits and commits atrocities, Lesli and Lupe confront trauma from their own past. Harnessing joy, community care, and self-expression, they discover that art can do more than expose violence—it can help heal it. Built on a 17-year relationship between the subjects and filmmakers, Comparsa is a stirring portrait of sisterhood, peace-building, and the transformational power of art.
Directors: Doug Anderson & Vickie Curtis (GUATEMALA/US 2025) 79 min