Máxima, an indigenous woman from the Peruvian Andes who cannot read or write, stands up to one of the largest gold producers in the world, US-based Newmont Mining Corporation, whohas claimed ownership of her land in order to expand its multi-billion dollar mining operation. 

For the past seven years, Newmont has claimed ownership of Máxima Acuña’s land. Without it, the multi-billion-dollar mining expansion project is not possible. Newmont has used violence, intimidation and criminal prosecution in an attempt to evict Máxima and her family. Máxima’s life is in imminent danger. 

In the film, we come to intimately understand Máxima and her family’s struggles. Sparrow and team not only introduce us to this warrior woman, but also ask us to think about how society’s demand for precious metals affects others directly.

Máxima screened at this year’s Hot Docs, as part of the Persister program. It has become a favourite of mine; as well as many others as it leads the Audience Choice Award poll.

To hear more about the film, I leave you with my interview with director Claudia Sparrow, Máxima Acuña, and her lawyer Mirtha Vásquez.