Federico Kauffman Doig began his career at the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera as a security guard. Today he is president of that institution and one of the world’s most respected archeologists, as well as a delightful and engaging speaker! This program originally appeared on Televisión Nacional del Perú as part of the esteemed artistic series, Presencia Cultural.

Federico was something of a wanderer in his early days, and describes himself as having been a “pre-hippy.” His father, intent that his son be something other than a vagabundo, probed Federico for any hint of passion, any calling. “It’s called archeology!” he yelled upon hearing that the young man enjoyed exploring ancient ruins.

Does graphic and violence-ridden television news that presents the worst aspects of a society also bring out the worst in its audience? Our filmmaker seems to think so, and believes that it is young viewers who pay the price when spectacle trumps thoughtful analysis and measured presentation.

Can the forced displacement of families ever be justified? This is a question that knows no borders as governments seek out locations for new highways, hospitals, universities, and, especially, airports. The people of Atenco, Mexico, argue against plans to put one on their farmlands.

If you find it unusual that a farmer is comparing compensation for his land with the cost of presidential bath linens, you are clearly not aware of the toallagate scandal that rocked Vicente Fox’s administration and led to resignations at Los Pinos. We’re not sure what kind of towel US $400 buys, but it best be pretty darned afelpado is all we can say!

Something that induces lagrimas (tears) is said to be lacrimógeno. So if you were organizing a Festival de cine lacrimógeno, only tear-jerkers would fit the bill. If, on the other hand, you were organizing a protest of the forced seizure of your family’s farm, you might find yourself crying because of the gas lacrimógeno wafting through the air.

Spain has never been a country afraid of divisive politics, and filmmaker Joan Planas has no fear of getting controversial when presenting his views of society, church and state. Note that the older gentleman is not speaking straight Spanish but Catalan, and the Spanish captions reflect not his exact words but are the same as the Spanish subtitles seen in white on the screen.

In this installment of the dispute documentary we hear Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata quoted over a protester’s loudspeaker. As Zapata said: “¡Victoria o muerte!” (“Victory or death!”). To protest the taking of their farmland, the people of Atenco are using stronger and stronger language. Listen in.

Joan Planas continues to pull no punches, taking on NGOs, television, and the Catholic church. Oddly enough, despite his firebrand rhetoric, the film ends on a rather conservative note, suggesting that perhaps what poor nations need is not so much charity but rather a change in actitude, or “attitude,” so as to reflect the mindset of people in successful nations. Tune in to find out the details.

While stirring a pot, Doña Coco sings us a couple of Christian songs, which she learned at her evangelical church.

We’ve already seen some interesting, fabulous and downright curious things in the “mercado de pulgas” (flea market). But what about the people in there? They’re as colorful, amusing and charming as the goods in any stall.

Enjoy this video presentation about Coro, one of Venezuela's oldest cities, founded in 1527 by Juan de Ampies. In Coro's old colonial center, you can admire many historical buildings, which helped prompt UNESCO to declare this beautiful city a "World Heritage" site in 1993.

Luis López Nieves' short story "Seva" takes place during the 1898 US invasion of Puerto Rico, in the fictional town of the same name, Seva. The story, first published in the newspaper Claridad, and which many readers mistook for fact, has sparked a very real debate about culture, identity, history and truth amongst Puerto Ricans of all stripes. The documentary Seva Vive explores these themes.

History tells us that the 1898 U.S. invasion of Puerto Rico occurred in June and from the south. The fictional short story, Seva, tells a different story, one of an invasion from the east that came a month earlier. A type of musical oral history known as a "copla" mirrors the fictional story.

Historians discuss the extent to which popular myths such as Seva affect people's perception of history in Puerto Rico.