Historia de una Utopía.

"Historia de una utopía' documents the first 16 years of theater work by Argentinean community theater ensemble Grupo de Teatro Catalinas Sur. Told in the words of the group itself (with an array testimonies by diverse group members), and illustrated with extensive video and photo documentation, this video maps out the origins and philosophy of the Catalinas Sur, while showcasing the variety of outdoor and indoor theater projects they have embarked on since 1983 - from 'Las Comediantes, ' performed in Plaza Malvinas in 1983, to 'El Fulgor Argentino, ' here shown at the group's own Galpón in 1999. The idea of Grupo de Teatro Catalinas Sur (www.catalinasur.com.ar) came to life during a neighborhood barbeque held by a school's parents association in 1983. It was during the time of Argentina's military dictatorship, which stifled popular expression, and the theater group used its community service as a form of resistance that strengthened feelings of solidarity and mutual binding. The group remains rooted in its Buenos Aires neighborhood, even as its membership and fame has grown, performing in a converted warehouse. Catalinas Sur members are acknowledged followers of the traditional artistic forms performed in the quarter which has been the birthplace of the popular arts: puppeteers, musicians, actors, artists originating from the old continent or from Latin America and who mingled their art, like a crucible, with the neighborhood. Firm believers that society can be changed by teamwork and a sense of community, Catalinas Sur has created more than 20 plays and, sweeping aside all false generation gaps, has now over 300 actors. In their own words, 'with the advent of this globalized and inhumane millennium, we are attempting, through the theater, to remember the value of our individual and collective histories, and revive the memory that believed and believes in a better world." Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics