Chile: Chiloe

In the south of Chile theres a magical place. This is the archipelago of Chilo, which was last stronghold of the Spanish Conquistadors in Latin America. It was here, in this isolation, that the fusion of European and indigenous people created a unique cultural landscape firmly rooted in the sea and land, and in religious devotion. As a result, this archipelago has a unique Latin American flavor, evident in the local lifestyle; from the cuisine to the unique Chilota religious architecture that now is protected with world heritage status for a group of 16 wooden churches. These religious buildings lend themselves as proof of this devotion; the large, distinctive churches found in this region are tangible manifestations of the cultural merge that is Chilo and the strong influence of boat building techniques applied to these wooden monuments. This film is a portrait of this unique marine world where people, land and sea are forever wedded.