Carmela and the Walkers

Carmela y los Caminantes

As the world appears increasingly intolerant of ‘outsiders’, an Ecuadorian woman welcoming Venezuelan migrants into her home is a moving reminder of our capacity for warmth and humanity.

In an Ecuadorian border town, Carmela, a fearless Afro-Ecuadorian, offers food and shelter to Venezuelan migrants arriving on foot. Her home is a hub for a constant flow of people she supports through cross-border trades with Colombia – frequently by unconventional means. When events unexpectedly impact her, Carmen’s resilience is tested, but her bravery in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, combined with an unwillingness to let those in need down, are a testament to her strength and goodness. Strikingly captured in black and white, Esteban Coloma and Luis Herrera’s film captures a world defined by hardship and hope. It’s a vivid, unforgettable portrait of solidarity in a world where the line between right and wrong is not always clear.