I think it's safe to say that when I casually mention that Curandera finds much of its foundation in the subject of Ayahuasca, many of you will be immediately lost and say to yourself "This is not a film for me." 

Of course, others of you will simply say "What's Ayahuasca?"

The truth is, though, that while Ayahuasca is within the foundation of Curandera, the film is much more about the life and healing journey of Tatiana Aya Tupinamba. Tatiana's life is a unique one, her journey of self-discovery beginning with deep childhood trauma yet finding its transformation through the gift of plant medicine and the learning of self-love. 

This 37-minute short film directed by Alexia Kraft de la Saulx is exquisitely photographed and lovingly told. Tatiana's life began with a childhood defined by loss and abuse, though I dare not emphasize that trauma given Tatiana's remarkable transformation. Ayahuasca "found her" in her twenties. It was a psychedelic and spiritual encounter of profound impact, revealing Tatiana's sense of purpose and awakening. While the Americanized version of this experience would likely play out much differently, especially on film, Tatiana's transformation led her toward her ancestral roots and deep within the heart of the Peruvian jungle to encounter deep immersion in the sacred traditions of Ayahuasca healing. 

Curandera shies away from the usual approach to this type of film. I suppose that's what I meant by "Americanized." So often, this type of film serves as nothing more than a glossy testimonial that's all style and no substance. While there is, indeed, much style to be found here, Curandera is grounded in Tatiana's transformation and interested in both teaching and transforming. The film was screened at several indie fests and picked up a handful of awards along the way. The team behind Curandera aspires for even greater outreach and perhaps even a cinematic transformation into a feature-length doc. 

While Curandera occasionally shows its team's roots as novices in filmmaking, there's a love and gentleness behind the imagery and Herbert Quinteros's original music that one can't help but be drawn into its simple yet effective storytelling. 

If you get a chance, check it out. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic