The Devil's Miner is a documentary about the effect of the Devil on people who work in the Bolivian Silver mines. As a documentary, the Devil himself is not interviewed, but none the less, representation of the Devil is very much a topic in the film, as is the importance of the Devil in the lives of the miners.

In addition the film is in Spanish with English subtitles. This has its own set of problems about having to deal with translation difficulties.

Like many documentaries, this is not just descriptive, but has points to make. Some information is focused on, other information is not. Watch for where the documentarians focus there interests.

What problems are generated by the community itself? Rules about clothes and haircuts which are expensive in a place where people have no money. Who runs the schools?

Is this the Devil in the film or the devil? That is, is this the Devil of the Bible? Does he actually appear, or his it just his presence which is felt throughout the film?

How does this film exemplify the question of the "evil" in the world? Does it lead here to a dualistic system?

Where does it place "blame" for evil?

AFTER THE FILM

Language, Text

Many documentary films are not documentaries. They are more "essays" putting forth a position rather than documenting. There is a complex problem about whether any film is ever objective or not or whether it is a question of the degree of objectivity.

In many documentaries, the camera is used to focus on one aspect of an event rather than another. In addition, language in the narration is often significant using "loaded" words (denotation and connotation).

In the film the miners refer to the Tio, but occasionally in the speech the word diablo is used instead. Does the film give us a complex look at the conceptualization of the world this way?

How does the priest's explanation work in the film?

Like many documentaries, this is not just descriptive, but has points to make. Some information is focused on, other information is not. Basilio says his father died when he was 2, but his brother and sister are younger than he is by more than 2 years. Who is their father? Where is he?

Is this the Devil? The explanation from Basilio says that it was placed there by the Christian missionaries which makes it likely. Worse, it makes them look like dualists, involved in the separation of good and evil between to divine powers. The Devil is called "Tio" rather than "Dios", it is explained because the Quecha language has no "d" (I wonder what happened to the final "s". Interestingly enough the miners refer to him as Tio and diablo which implies an equation. Tio clearly refers to the images which are built in the mines. Each mine has its own tio. The offerings to the tio are clearly offered to the supernatural being the image represents. In this sense, it is clear we don't see the actual devil although images of him appear and his presence is clearly felt throughout.

Basilio says that the miners and miners' children are made fun of. Do we see this? What happens when the "Little Miners" dance into town? Is there any conflict between what is said and what we see?

Basilio says that the girls are difficult and scratch etc. Do we see any indication of the girls doing this? Do we see any indication of the boys "tormenting" the girls?

What do they accuse the miners of doing? Is there any indication of what the local non-miners think should be done with the mines?

The film discusses the problems of going to school. What are they? Clothes, haircuts, etc. all of which cost money. Who runs the schools? What do these missing pieces say about the film makers? That may become clearer after the short film coming up.

Religion

Rituals at the entrance to the mine propitiate the Devil not God.

There are several rituals in the film - they deal largely with keep the devil happy. What are they and where do they take place? Are the rituals in the mines different from those above ground? How are they filmed?

How do they compare with the scenes of the dancing?

Where does the film place "blame" for evil? Is it the Devil? Is it that people don't treat the tio properly?

Photography:

How are the scenes in the mine lit? What kinds of colors are there? In the shots of the mountains, what effect do the sunrise/sunset photos have? Do they look like red lights coming up from hell?

How are the "interview shots" cut into the film's shots that depict the events in the mine?

Are the film makers' techniques different in the larger mine than they are in the smaller one? Is there a greater feeling of danger? How is this accomplished (cuts, action shots). Does the smaller mine seem more peaceful and safer? (Think about the shots of the two kids sitting alone by the Tio and talking. Are there carts moving in the old mine?

Basilio's brother says he is scared of the Tio and Basilio tells him not to be. This even carries over into the sequence where we see the Devil at the dance. Basilio says he would have been afraid to approach the Tio in the new mine without his boss being there. What does this say about the reality and the Devil to the miners? Think about this in terms of medieval times as opposed to today's Satanists. Do you feel there is a significant difference between the former and the latter?

What is coca? What does it contain (cocaine). Do you think this has an effect on what is happening with the miners? It certainly gives then energy and stimulation but might it have another impact?

Who is the Devil in the film? Is it just the Tio or has it something to do with the way the children are exploited. How is the word "exploited" used in the film? Is this a "loaded" word?

SECOND FILM SHOWN AFTER NOTES THAT DEALS WITH KINDERNOTHILFE

What does this film tell us that the previous one did not? What does it say about Kindernothilfe (Help for Children in Need)?

. The film certainly focuses on the plight of children, but also tends to ignore contributing (or possibly) primary factors: Where is the younger children's father

Why does the school make these demands on people that cost so much? (special clothes and hair cuts? Who runs the school and makes these rules?

Why are there no interviews with government officials about the treatment of children in terms of work laws? Obviously the problems are far more complex than the film can deal with.