A mother with her daughter, alone. In front of them, the Peruvian jungle.

A mother with her daughter, alone. In front of both, the Peruvian jungle. The mother has a job offer as a teacher in a village, but she can't reach it due to nature's whims. She decides to work where she is. This is the plot of "Islandia," a Peruvian film that hits theaters this week, not only paying tribute to educators in Peru but also to the filmmaker's mother, Ina Mayushin. The film, based on real events with a touch of fiction, immerses us in the story of Emilia, a teacher played by Claudia Solís, and her daughter Irina, portrayed by Mariafe Vargas Inca. The movie begins as a documentary, showcasing the director's mother's story, and then transitions into fiction, narrating the story of a woman who finds solace in a remote village in Loreto to heal the wounds of her husband's loss. The director, with a heartfelt personal motivation, takes us on a journey of discovery and redemption through Emilia's eyes, a character who immerses herself in an unfamiliar and hostile environment that paradoxically needs her. The making of "Islandia" was a long process, taking 12 years to complete, which is uncommon in non-commercial Peruvian cinema. However, this effort was recognized with various awards and grants, including the Stimulus Award from the National Fiction Feature Film Competition and the screenplay development award from the Borau Foundation, showcasing the quality and commitment behind the film's production. The story of "Islandia" also serves as social criticism, highlighting the lack of access to basic education in the most remote and disadvantaged communities. The film exposes the harsh reality of places like Samito, where the absence of basic services such as water, electricity, and sewage is a sad truth that authorities seem to overlook. The director aims to give voice to these realities, making them visible through cinema and turning her work into a call to action for authorities and society at large. Furthermore, "Islandia" critically addresses Peruvian masculinity, showing how the men in the village initially view the teacher as an object of desire until they discover the transformative power of education, at which point they distance themselves and reject her. This duality between the supposed desire for an independent and empowered woman and the rejection of her ideas and knowledge is a central theme in the film, prompting reflection on the contradictions of the society we live in. For the director, the film is also a way to connect with her family and honor her mother's memory. Through Irina's story, a cinematic alter ego of the filmmaker, Mayushin manages to relive the wonderful years she spent alongside her mother, showing how cinema can be a powerful tool to explore our emotions and personal history. "Islandia" is more than just a film; it is an emotional and reflective journey that encourages us to question our beliefs and appreciate the transformative power of knowledge and education in our lives.