Kuka Saruy Project

KUKA SARUY is an interdisciplinary and multiproduct project based in Peru and deeply rooted in the Andean culture. The main goal is a feature docu-fiction in a mix of documentary realism yet enriched with artistic and poetic elements during the reinterpretation of reality, together with other materials in video, writing, photo and social actions.

Featuring three generations of the Q'ero Nation, widely known as the last living direct descendants of the Incas, having survived the Spanish conquest by receding high into the mountains. The ones who serve as intermediaries between the material and spiritual realms undertake a journey from the lofty peaks of the mountains to the depths of the jungle, guided and intermediated by Hallpa Mama - the sacred coca leaf. A pilgrimage that many generations didn't dare to make, in a quest to reconnect materially and spiritually with the spirit of the Coca and the cosmovision that surrounds it.

THE MOVIE'S BACKGROUND STORY AND PLOT

In contemporary times, the perception of the coca leaf has become entangled with the stigma surrounding "cocaine", leading to the neglect of its true spiritual and cultural significance. Sadly among many consequences, now elders who utilize this sacred tool as a conduit to the Great Spirit are compelled to purchase it, which brings other consequences to it.

The involvement of money turning the coca plant into a merchandise (and modifying it into something far from its origin) has changed the relationship to this sacred plant. Rising departure of Andean values, such as the reciprocal exchanges that once characterised its procurement through the practice of "AYNI" (reciprocity) among communities and nations.

PLOT

This movie focuses on the message that the last elder for the community have heard from their APUS, sacred mountains. Taita José, invokes his elder soon Wilfredo Apaza, the Q’ero messenger to go into an ancient pilgrimage seeking to rebuild the relationship with this sacred plant and bringing back the power of AYNI. Throughout this journey full os mysteries where two realities meet, the Amazon and the Andes, he encounters fellow seekers who further underscore the importance of AYNI.

The final encounter is with the elder Don Fortunato, one of the few representatives that is the living testimony of the sacred ritual of the "Kuka Saruy", which unfolds and unlocks the access to ancient wisdom that can guide humanity into a balanced life among all living beings.

IMPORTANCE OF THIS MOVIE/THEMATICS

Our film aims to portray the paramount importance of the sacred coca leaf and the revival of its ritualistic harvest and usage, sparked by the vision of a Q’ero elder.

This film is envisioned as a tool of preservation and consolidation of natural laws from first nations attached to the rites of cultural practices that could be lost, practices which bring meaning to human nature. An initiative that comes from the imperative to safeguard the narratives of our elders, in deep reverence of ancestral wisdom in compromise with the profound respect for the sacred plants.

Besides working in reviving the original connection of this sacred plant guide to its historical, symbolic, political and identity dimension, that upholds belonging and recognition to a population;
We also understand that the sharing of the living history of the coca leaf supports education into the thematic. Learning with the plants that were misused and had suffered from cultural appropriation. Bringing attention to learn about the relationship of sacred medicines with the Western, for example guiding the nowadays worldwide rising movement of the psychedelic renaissance.

As we continue to delve into the depths of this narrative, our journey unfolds, revealing more layers of intrigue and significance.

ABOUT HALPA MAMA

For 8 thousands years the coca leaf is taken as the most sacred spirit of the Andes, as powerful as gold in its natural form, an instrument of spiritual connection, supporting sociocultural aspects, identity fortitude and health - as one of the most complete superfoods with 14 natural alkaloids.

The greediness of economic interest ended up creating cocaine narcotraffic by consequence; This happened when the medical product "cocaine" proved to be harmful - a product created by an European chemist driven into an international exportation business led by the US. Which led to a movement known as the "crusade for the coca leaf" where the leaf and the Andean culture were attacked in order to try destroy the illegal drug trafficking. Causing the deculturation of a people, disintegrating the social organization of First Nations and pushing the individuals into moral decline, which ballasts till today in many places.

THE PLAN FOR THIS CROWDFUNDING

We are raising money to fund the production and post-production which will cover plane tickets, crew hiring (local and international), production costs, equipment rentals, sound mixing, scoring, graphics, editing, and a little bit for marketing. By supporting the project, you will also be supporting the communities that are part of this project, specifically de Q’eros and Don Fortunato’s family, among others.

Besides the feature movie we will deliver content that supports and provides foundations for the theme presented unwinded in various media such as: photography, articles, website, social media with content production, YouTube channel for side videos that tackle the subject more directly, online study groups for general admission, traditional cultural presentations from the Q'ero Nation, besides supporting local projects of the associations and communities that partake in this project in Peru at various locations.

OUR SCHEDULE

In February during the privately funded research phase we embarked on filming in the Q’ero village nestled 4000 meters high in the mountains and meeting the forest inside a rural community. The video and photographs in this presentation where made during this period - all by the D.O.P Faisal Tisnés.

The next step is to come back to Peru to produce the movie, June and August for two weeks each. Decisive dates on the planting of the coca leaf. From October we will be post-producing, aiming to finish the movie in April 2025.

KUKA SARUY will premiere in 2025, play at festivals throughout the year, partaking in conferences, forums and events that speaks about sacred plants, science, indigenous rights, psychedelic renaissance and biohacking, then touring across the world. We hope to have the movie made available for the public in 2027.

Support us today by donating and making connections and sharing the project with friends! By supporting you also guarantee to receive a private link to watch the movie until it makes its way to the general public.

There is a lot of heart into the materialization of this project. We appreciate all support, prayers and collaborations.

Urpillay Sonqollay

WHO ARE WE

Second feature film by the Brazilian director Lara Jacoski (BR) director of "Eskawata Kayawai", with independent production by Bem-te-vi Productions (BR), together with the cultural investigator and quechólogo Bacilio Zea (PE), in orientation of the anthropologist Jesús Ríos (PE).

Investigation of Alexander Muñoz Ramirez (PE), Executive Production of Araceli Baños (ESP) and Associate Production of Faisal Tisnés (CO). Counting with a local and multicultural crew that work in respect and responsibility with first nations for more than 10 years and speak Quechua, Spanish, Portuguese and English, creators, lawyers, researchers, indigenous relationship…

With the support of the Indigenous Spiritual University of the Q'ero Nation (PE) and Noqanchis Association(PE), looking for other collaborations, support and also for co-producers - specially for the post production area.

This project is part of the Living Libraries Wisdom Series umbrella, a movement that seeks to safeguard ancestral wisdom that inspires, awaken and connect us to our natural law by documenting Latin America first nations and traditional cultures.