Recovering Latin American historical memory and raising awareness of the atrocities committed in the past are crucial steps to take in order to ensure they are never repeated and that, instead, we continue to work towards strengthening our democracies. To that end, film can play a crucial role in compiling testimonies that constitute our collective memory, in this case the history of Peru.

Spanish filmmaker Luis Cintora unveiled his new documentary at the Latin American Film Festival and the Melbourne International Film Festival. It recounts the alleged crimes committed by the Peruvian army in their fight against the militant group Shining Path from 1983-84 in the Ayacucho region. The documentary “Wecome to Los Cabitos” features testimony from survivors, relatives of missing persons, academics and soldiers, who provide moving testimony about the alleged crimes against humanity perpetrated on the former military base.

Documentalista revela que los jóvenes de #Ayacucho desconocen la época del terror http://t.co/1Ux7BAyXAg

— Jorge Weston (@JorgeMWeston) March 13, 2015

Documentary filmmaker reveals that young people in #Ayacucho are unaware of the era of terror.

It is not the first time that the Spanish filmmaker has focused on this dark period in Peru's history. In 2012 he made “The footprints of the Shining Path“, which explores the shadow cast by this violent organization on the country's collective memory, one which not surprisingly elicits conflicting emotions.

#sinperos a filomena sanchez desaparecida en huanta en 1988, la encontraron en el cuartel los cabitos cuando desenterraron los cadaveres

— jose edwin velasquez (@joseedwin69) March 1, 2015

Filomena Sanchez disappeared in Huanta in 1988; they found her body among the cadavers uncovered in the Los Cabitos barracks.

Otra mas de los PROTERRORISTAS, basándose en el informe de la CVR. http://t.co/Z50AMjgyZ6

— El Majin (@Majindice) March 13, 2015

One more from the PROTERRORISTS, based on the CVR [Truth and Reconciliation Commission] report.